Will the real Liz please stand up?

Introducing Gordon

2010-06-30T08:56:00.006-06:00

June 25, 2010 - 5 weeks old:

June 28, 2010:

Here he is sticking his tongue out like his mama does but I don't think he does it all the time. Was it a fluke?

When I was looking at cats to adopt last year, I knew that Sonny would be the guy for me. On his fact sheet he was listed as being good with dogs and cats so combined with his mellow temperament, I knew he was the boy for me.

I had all intentions of adopting a cat younger than a year after I had hopefully moved into a house within a few months but I'm still in the apartment and not sure when circumstances towards that will change.

In May, I start volunteering for our local library while they were doing a conversion to RFID and worked with another woman, Dianne, who had a pregnant cat. In our conversation, it just happened that I was thinking hard about adopting a young cat and she had a pregnant cat (long story short, she has property outside our city limits and often people abandon animals outside the city limits...).

My initial intention was to get a kitten from a rescue but this is not unlike a rescue seeing as the mama cat had been abandoned, got pregnant and had her kittens on May 21st.

I first visited the kittens on June 12th and had thought the female kitten (Gordon has two brothers and a sister) would be the good fit for me, Sonny and Jake but the tabby patch kitty really felt right. On the way home, I was just thinking about names for kittens and "Gordon" just clicked in my head. No rhyme, no reason, it just popped into my head and stuck with me.

After a second visit, I knew the little guy was for me. He's a bit behind in getting off the breast milk but that's okay. In other visits with him I was happy to see him look at canned cat food as a way to nourish his body. He was the smallest but now is about as big as his litter mates and oh, he's such a mellow kitten.

I've been taking a hand towel (seen in the third photo) that has Sonny and Jake smell on it and then bringing it back for Sonny to inspect, which he does for a few minutes. I have a rationalization that if Sonny recognizes the smell of Gordon, he wont seem like as much of an intruder (as cats are prone to think when a new cat is introduced). The reverse is true too for Gordon, so he recogizes the smells of my home when it's time to leave his brothers and sisters it hopefully wont be as traumatic for him.

I've started to kitten-proof around here and that's been good for the front bedroom, not as good for my main bedroom because now it lacks character. I took down the sheers on my bed canopy. The duvet is stored away and soon the gold curtains will be replaced with the black curtain I had over the door to the laundry room. I need to find a colorful throw to put on the end of the bed and perhaps find a cheap canvas to paint with some color to get back some personality...but that's not a problem. Gordon will be worth all of that effort.

It's been hard to visit him and have to leave him behind but he's so worth the wait.

Sonny checked out in great health at the vet recently and Gordon will be visiting my awesome veterinarian on the way home from his current digs.

In addition to my new addition, today is the last day of smoking. I am down to my last cigs and after that, I am done. In part for my health but also for Gordon's health. Also, helps to have that cash for veterinarian bills (shots, "deworming", neutering). So, bringing Gordon into my life will have some definite positives other than having a new furball to add to my little animal family.

Lamp update

2010-06-01T23:00:00.006-06:00

You may or may not remember the lamp bases I purchased last August from Hobby Lobby for $1 each, but I finally finished updating the smaller one. It basically went from this:

To this:

Sprayed it with a flat black and went to town with Rub 'n Buff in Antique Gold. I used my fingers to apply and a paper towel to manipulate it a bit. Being the "perfectionist" I am, I did mess up in a few places but if you work with it a bit you learn how to correct some of your mistakes and forgive it a bit. Seriously, you don't need hardly any at all (especially if you use your fingers) to get the look you're trying to achieve. I am digging this stuff. Now I just need to put it aside or I might get happy with it on other items around the house. Haha.

I need to look around for a better shade but the one that I have on it now will work. At least it's a shade and boy, what a difference some paint and antiquing can do to make something work for your own decor and preferences. It's sitting where it was intended, in my bedroom now and with the gold curtains and black and goldish bed covering, it works.

Join the fun:

Transformation Thursday - @ The Shabby Chic Cottage

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous

It's a Sonny-versary

2010-05-16T12:39:00.003-06:00

It was a year ago today I brought my Sonny home from the PetsMart cat adoption area. While there was a regular adoption fair going on (they do that every weekend), Sonny had been in one of their permanent kennels.

I almost brought home a younger female cat (she was a year and a half old) named Natasha. She was a smokey grey with the most beautiful eyes and as loving as Sonny. One problem, they hadn't mentioned if she was good with other cats and dogs. I tracked her on their website for several months and she hadn't been adopted for at least four months. I almost went back to get her and in that thought process I was thinking, screw it, she can learn to like other cats and dogs but I never did it. Sonny, however, he had his fact chart of being okay around dogs and when I held him, I knew he was the boy for me.

He's hefty but not nearly as large as Montgomery (my previous boy) was and it made me laugh when a couple of people mentioned how large Sonny is. I said to them, if you had seen my previous cat, you'd know this cat is small in comparison.

Anyhow, he's been with me for a year and I couldn't be happier. He's about 5 years old now but still acts like a kitten at times. Overall though, he's a gem of a cat and I thank the previous owners for whatever reason they had for giving him up.

Here he is last night:

So Happy Sonny-versary to Sunshine who became my Sonny.

Clean Walls!

2010-05-01T18:26:00.007-06:00

It's pretty amazing how much better (I think) my walls look now that they are clean:

It took me five days at about five hours each to do the living room, kitchen, bath and hallway. It may have not been a new coat of paint but spring cleaning sure makes a difference in how you see your home!

About the only advantage to living in an apartment this size, you can actually clean walls. I would never do this in a house unless it was about the same size...

BTW, the two rust/copperish pillows on my futon are actually placemats that I purchased on sale from King Soopers - one of our Colorado flavors of Kroger...yeah, diggin' the idea you can shop your grocery for decor! I still need to sew the ends up but I already had fiber fill and some quilt batting. You can put quilt batting inside and put the fiber fill inbetween to eliminate lumps you can get from fiber fill fluffs.

Dang, looks like I'm moving...

2010-04-25T00:48:00.003-06:00

...I wish. But no, prep for more spring cleaning:

(I caught Sonny mid yawn there in the bottom pic)

I'm wiping down all the walls in here. Thus far I have completed the kitchen (to include the ceiling), the entry, the hallway and the bathroom (also the ceiling in there).

It's cheaper than new paint. It's taking me forever to do because of my wrist, arm and shoulder but the places I have done it has been completely worth it.

I will have to wait till the cold weather is completely gone for the bedroom because of the double layers of curtains tacked up, which is fine. The front bedroom just isn't going to be done, that would be way too much to pull out the stuff in there since it's basically a storage room instead of a living space.

I've done this in two other apartments I lived in because the size is just right. Never to any house or place that had more than one level though.

Long Post, update

2010-04-17T11:05:00.005-06:00

Just a few updates:

Old microwave, circa 1987 (that still works BTW):

New to me microwave, circa 2005 courtesy of my parents who decided to never use a microwave again because they deplete the nutrients in food:

If you notice, there are new additions to my sink's backsplash. You may (or may not) recall my post about injecting some blue. I wanted to go the route of talavera tiles because I really like the hand-crafted look of them. Well, that wasn't happening any time soon.

I had an item to return to Ross stores and while cruising through the dishware I saw those and remembering that I wanted the blue and while they aren't talavera tiles, it was just what the budget ordered...I got three for 1¢ less than the return so it was a wash. Major bonus is the three cost about $1 more than one talavera tile!

I hung them using this tutorial. Seriously, the plate hangers I have do not work on square plates. I've tried it on other square plates and they don't work. They've stayed on the wall and no mysterious crashing sounds have happened in the middle of the night, so right on. To help them to stay straight, I used vinyl bumper tabs (from the mirror section at Home Depot) which also helps them hang more level to the wall.

Also, I finally painted the trivets I have hanging above them to black (not in that pic though). Much better.

-----------------

Long story short, my parents (my dad and step-mom) have put their house on the market. It has some of the family heirloom antiques from both my mom (she died when I was 15) and my dad...well, they are having us "kids" take the things that are ours so I have the last piece of the family treasures I inherited (I think), which is a little chest of drawers in my bedroom.

Before (little wicker drawers from Hobby Lobby, 1996):

After:

I think that actually goes with the large secretary my brother has though. The finish doesn't have as many red tones as the other heirloom furniture. Plus the hardware on it doesn't match. I must talk to my bro about that so the pieces stay together.

-----------------

Simple paint update. We finally got some warmer days with little wind (not like today though) where I could spray paint. I got seriously paint happy and not all things I painted are photographed...they went from whatever to black so not too exciting. Buuuut, here's a dopey update to my monitor stand.

Before:

After:

I have since attached black fabric (leftover from my pelmet box/valance/cornice in the kitchen) to hide cords dangling from the monitor and speakers. Wish I could paint the speakers but that's just not a job I wish to tackle.

Last but not least, a new tissue box cover for my bath:

I had replaced the shower curtain in my bath a while back. It's lighter so it opens up the bath a tiny bit more. I really hate tissue boxes as I demonstrated back in Oct and based on this one in my living room, made one for the bath.

Hobby Lobby had their unfinished wood on sale so yay. I am not completely sold on the medallions yet though I do like the placement of the two on the top because it covers up the box underneath even more. Kroger recently changed the boxes so the opening at the top is smaller showing the box...which defeats the purpose of a tissue box cover.

Anyhow, I have them on there with standard white glue in case I get to hating the medallions, I can take them off, sand and repaint.

So that's my long update on a few things.

Hope everyone is enjoying early springtime. Not so much here today. Cloudy, drizzle, fog and only 42°.

Sometimes less is more

2010-03-15T23:02:00.007-06:00

It's true:

EDIT A reminder of the forest green tab tops (from the house and my 90s decor when I lived in Denver) I had up there with push-pins and not wide enough to cover - from 01-21-10:

EDIT 03-16: Here's a daytime shot with the curtains pulled back to compare to the above. Much better than the tacked up version, at least they are out of the way mostly:

---------------------------

I moved the vertical blind track back to the left and took down the fabrics (valances and napkins I had up for "visualization") and decided that because the length of the vertical blind track, to put a valance up there it would look horrible. So, I will keep the vanes out (I have all the worm gears, thankfully and one stem is properly installed so I know how to put everything back in as required) and just leave it as is.

I actually like it though I would rather have all the vertical blind hardware taken down, the holes filled and proper curtains and rods put up there. It's not going to happen without great expense so it is what it is.

The vertical blinds in my bedroom aren't nearly as imposing as they are here in the living room so I am not worried about messing with them. The treatment for the window in there helps soften the room up a lot. It also helps that the patio door isn't the first thing you see when you enter the room. The window and my bed overpower the ugly of the vertical blinds and I like that.

But yeah, for an apartment where you have limited ability to do as you please, the cheap-o tab tops work pretty well to add some softness and personality to an otherwise imposing feature.

Now that I have my place decorated to the best of my ability, this blog is going to be extremely sparse in updates. I use my Facebook for quick updates that don't amount to much and my journal is for my more intimate communication. Hopefully my work circumstances will change and I will be in a house by the end of summer. Until then, unless I find a fabulous something to update...this blog is all but put on the back burner for a while.

:-)

Oscar Night Dresses For Doors & Perfect Lighting

2010-03-08T00:15:00.007-07:00

(No I didn't watch, I just looked up some galleries of what the women were wearing.)

I have an obsession with fabric. I become more obsessed when I see things like curtains so cheap and Tuesday Morning is my downfall:

An odd application to be sure and I am lucky that previous tenants here had painted all the doors and trim white because other apartments here (that I have seen) have the original stain (medium oak brown similar to the kitchen cabinets) but I am still hating the louvered door to the laundry room.

I shortened the valance that came with the 99¢ curtains by about 6 inches and I like it now. I don't see curtains used in this manner very often but it softens up the space tremendously.

Also, though I do have the overhead light on in the kitchen for this picture, I grabbed one of my canister uplights and placed it on the microwave temporarily so I can leave it on at night and reduce the need to turn the overhead light off and on.

I plan on getting the innerds for the other lamp I bought last August (the one on the left via the link) and putting that in there, painted black with either antique gold or bronze Rub N Buff. I already have a lamp shade I can use with it. I am totally loving the idea of putting a small lamp in a kitchen using only a 15 watt CFL bulb. Saves on energy and my eyes because that kitchen lighting is so institutional.

Anyhow, between projects that I show, I often go through a process before I decide what to do. The most recent project in the works is the awkward patio door in the living room:

Those are three curtain panels (identical fabric to the one in the kitchen), hung up on little rods that hang close to the wall because of that monster of a headrail for the vertical blinds.

Well, when the vanes (the vertical blind panels) are fully pulled back, you can see all kinds of nasty with the curtain tabs and the cheesy rods. So here I am in the process of deciding what type of valance to create. This is going to be a project that may not get done until next month but with the help of some fabric (black napkins from Target to cover pillows and the tan valances from Tues Morn I got several months back as a backdrop for the shelves to the right of my computer) I can start a process to see what my minds eye is thinking.

Thoughts:

Use the tan valances and put a black ribbon along the bottom. Tehe, I have electrical tape on it right now for the "feel".

Look for some basic black fabric.

Definately go from the 12" down to 9" in length. I can't raise anything because of the apartment's vertical blind hardware so doing much of anything else is out of the question. Move the blind rail back over to the left again so as to eliminate the overhang on the right side.

Note to anyone who decides to do something like take vertical blinds down from your rental, don't take the vanes out with the stem. You will find little plastic pieces called worm gears strewn about. Whoops.

Luckily I am very mechanically inclined but holy crap replacing each stem, vane along with the worm gears is going to be a tedious task. It's already an awkward project because the vertical blinds are meant for a 9' patio door and that door is 7' and some change. In all the years I sold windows and doors, being around the industry it's just a stupid, stupid door. They should have just put 6' doors in and called it a day. Anyhow, those vertical blinds are too wide for the stupid door making for a decor challenge.

The curtains truly soften the space and are much better than the 90s forest green panels I've been sporting. I've had them hung up for a while because I wasn't sure I was liking it because of the odd way it's set up to begin with. I had contemplated taking them back for a couple of reasons including financial but, I am going to attempt to stop smoking on the 15th or so. I don't have a choice unless I take those curtains back so...I am weighing my options here and I think having a cozy home is far better than (pardon me here) shitty lungs. I've done it before, let's hope I can do it again and I can look at my silly valance-in-progress to remind me why I am stopping.

I have other financial obligations I need to take care of too so the smoking's gotta go. I still need projects to do to keep me out of trouble but I do have friends that have helped me in the past that need to get repaid. The honeymoon is over with redecorating so the smoking needs to go and I can still repay debt yet keep myself from going insane. Besides, house stuff is much more fun than what I had been doing with my money in the past, drinking.

Okay then. Hope everyone has had a fine weekend.

Scarf softly draped around her neck

2010-03-03T21:03:00.014-07:00

I can't leave well enough alone and the sides still need taming but:

Here's the before, the before-before and the before-before-before. hehe.

I was very proud of my trip to Hobby Lobby in that I didn't purchase 5 million items I don't need. I admit, I did come home with a few items that were discounted or on sale (two glass votive holders and a gold plate -cheaper than Goodwill I tell ya- that I have a smaller version of...and I finally got two art/plate tabeletop easels that I have been needing to get for a long time now) I did get the intended fabric for the valance/pelmet box/cornice in the kitchen and found a remnant of black fleece to put on the bed for Sonny so it would coordinate and so he would quit sleeping on my pillows. I really scored on the fleece - mostly for my sanity.

Anyhow, on the way home I decided to see if the window scarf (the only one) was still available that goes with the two sheers. Yep, so after I ironed all 216" of it yesterday I placed it on the rails, went to have dinner with my aunt and uncle came home and crawled into bed.

I hadn't secured it in anyway and right now it's still a bit rough but I couldn't stand that it was not draping better.

I got out of bed in just my tshirt and hunted down the bow from the only Christmas gift I got this year - the sheer fabric in it is almost identical. Took it apart and at least secured it so it was draping better. Hehe, it was about 1:00 am, standing on my bed with just the shirt and undies because I can't leave well enough alone!

I justify it in that:

#1. I originally was going to look for a black throw for the bed. I had seen a black and leapord print one on sale at Target for $12 and some change. I resisted picking that up even though it would go with the not-my-usual-style $5 leapord print lamp shade. It also would have been perfect because of my Sonny's fur since it had some medium tans in there.

#2. I didn't spend $30+ at Hobby Lobby like I normally do in a trip there. I have mentioned it in the past, I often go and end up with a ton of $3-$4 things that I frankly don't need. Since I spent about $20 I figured the $5 window scarf was okay since I semi-controlled my usual inability to control myself in Hobby Lobby and I mostly stayed on task.

#3. I knew the scarf was there and I would not "rest" knowing that it was there and it might be the finishing touch I needed to conceal the space between the mirror and the back rail.

I think I made the right decision. I still need to "style" it a bit but at least it's doable for right now. The flash shows things it shouldn't but whatchya gonna do? At least she's as styling as my dapper kitchen window.

Oh and here's Sonny, again, sleeping on the fleece I got:

Not on my pillows! YAY!

Minus the fleece, total cost of scarf and panels = $11 + tax. According to Tuesday Morning's tags, this would cost $45 at normal retail prices.

EDIT: I have to admit, my bedroom is a bit more "frilly" than is my usual. The shimmery gold panels on the window, the sheers and scarf in gold, the other golds that are around the room. I usually opt for more organic looking (woven/textured cottons similar to canvas) fabrics. I can make my bedroom a bit softer/feminine and keep the casual look in the living room. I like a place that is relaxed but I think I have started to like a bedroom with a bit more uh, glamour(?) and so far, I like it.

Hey, I am a jeans, casual shirt and my Danskos everyday kinda gal. The direction my bedroom has taken certainly is a step outside my usual.

Links:

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous

My kitchen window is now a dapper fellow

2010-03-03T14:03:00.009-07:00

His day look as he heads to the office:

He believes in simplicity for an evening look. And women think they are the only ones that can make a simple day look to an evening look in a manner of steps:

What he really enjoys is that his look was only $2.50!

(doesn't include the curtain rod though - that was $3 - the foam board was on hand and this time I used a combo of tape and hot glue.)

Here's a reminder of the before-before and before...haha!

Links:

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch (Messed up my link over there. The link is correct, the title's all kinds of wrong.)

Casually dressed canopy and dollar store finds

2010-02-28T19:25:00.003-07:00

Sheer panels from Tuesday Morning at $3 each!

Here's the before-before:

Then there's the newer before:

Finally, here's the after:

They look a hundred times better in person though.

Before:

After:

Two more afters:

In the pics they look more yellow than they are in person.

The main part that is bugging me is the space between the mirror and the canopy rail. For grins I put up the two remaining napkins from my pelmet box to try to envision it with a shortened valance but it wasn't working for me. They had another one of the sheers and though it appeared the same, the color of it was off just enough in the store I just couldn't bring myself to getting it. Even if it hadn't been off, I don't have a sewing machine and that's not something you want to hand sew for many reasons (slippery fabric, etc). Plus you know the thread would cost as much as the panel so it wasn't worth it.

I will rest on it a few days to see if I am liking it more or not. But seeing as the other ways I have done sheer fabric on the canopy in the past just isn't going to work for this go around (the room is too small, placement of the TV and the dresser just make it too cramped), that was my only option really. Plus they only had the two. If the room weren't set up like it is and if it were bigger I probably would invest in 8 panels and put two in each corner similar to this but without the tabs and not wrapped around the bed posts.

It really does look better in person. I don't know why they look a honey color in the pics...I adjusted the contrast a bit because they looked very washed out and since it was later in the day, the light was pretty diffused as well. They look nearly perfect at night.

If I don't like it, I will keep them and put them up in the bedroom patio door when I take down the panels I have behind the vertical blinds after the main part of heating season is over. They can be used to let in light but help with a bit of privacy during the day. But so far I may just keep them as they are.

Oh and after I put them up there, the regular bed pillows seemed so blah so I added the pillows that came with the duvet. I need to get plain black fabric and cover them all. But it adds a much needed dimension on the bed after putting the sheers up.

Today I made a run to the Dollar Tree and picked up several hard backed rugs. The little rugs I had in there (I think $2-$3 each at Home Depot in May) had seen better days.

Here's Sonny sprawled out on one of them back in the summer:

Believe me when I say, they don't look anything like that today. Between me, the dog, the cat and the fact they shrank after several washings (though I did wash in cold and air dry them per the instructions) they're just pitiful.

So, they had several black rugs with the cloth banding. Shake and vacuum, works for me:

Oh how I miss the wood laminate floors of my old kitchen. That vinyl flooring is just dreadful but better than some of the other apartments in this complex.

They really make the greens, yellows and pumpkin-oranges pop in my kitchen.

I replaced the one in the laundry room that is placed at the laundry room door to catch kitty litter so Sonny doesn't track it around the house. I had a multi-color dollar store rug there and the colors were driving me batty. I also got two for the front door (inside and out) to catch the dirt and salt.

Oh and a while back, I added the valance from the kitchen curtain on the door to the laundry room. I am one of those that if it's there, I try to find a place for it. It helps hide the shelving a bit when I forget and leave the door wide open. If I can find a cheap full length curtain, I will do that instead. I just have to leave the door open so the cat can use the litter box. At least with a curtain he can come and go as he pleases and it keeps the air circulation going (gas water heater is in there).

Okay. Hopefully everyone had a fine weekend. I probably will link up to a few link-a-thons this week so see you around!

Link-a-thons:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch!

If I were to paint

2010-02-23T21:07:00.002-07:00

The living room would go from this:

To this:

My bedroom would go from this:

To this:

I had to use a combo of Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro because I don't know how to use masks and such but hey, that works for me. I've never claimed to be a master at Photoshop...perhaps I should take a class.

Canopy a good idea?

2010-02-23T15:00:00.011-07:00

But of course it can be a good idea!

Haha, don't you just love a corny play on words?

Anyhow I added the canopy to my bed today out of boredom. I had to lower the mirror and I am not sure I am liking it there but I will wait before I decide to keep it or put something else there.

Before:

After:

I really wish my camera had the ability to take wide indoor shots. Oh well.

Sonny has approved of the canopy:

(Yes those are two separate pictures...aint he adorable?)

Oh yeah, where I'm linking to and where to check for some fabulous home decor and DIY ideas:

DIY day with A Soft Place to Land!

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage!

Makeovers @ Sanctuary Arts at Home!

Folks, it's Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous.

Just swatch me!

2010-02-13T01:03:00.005-07:00

I was just cruising through some fabric sites so I could get an idea of what is available and hopefully what I can find locally. Came up with some samples of fabric designs I like for the office/computer chair.

I am pretty sure I will end up with something completely different but at least I now have a thought process going even though I am unable to afford to recover my chair right now.

I do like solid colors with heavy texture, tone on tone, but also like some that have two colors. I am not as inclined to go with multi colors though multi colors can open up a lot of possibilities. However, multiple colors tend to run in a much more defining style like "modern" or "rustic" or "traditional". Also, since this chair is used a great deal, it has to be able to withstand a lot of wear. Most of the multiple color options seemed to be for light duty upholstery oh and way, way out of my price range too.

Inspiration is not a bad thing, even for impatient people like me.

Urkel voice: "Did I do that?"

2010-02-05T06:23:00.003-07:00

Next project is to redo my office/desk chair. Last night I took it apart to see how it's constructed. I'm not encouraged because I popped off the lower lumbar area (under the actual lumbar area) and in doing so snapped the plywood in half.

Ooops.

No worries I was able to get it back together and found that it has a black plastic claw and bolt system with velcro. With my wrist the way it is, I couldn't even attempt the same with the upper part of the back so I put it back together again.

I think I purchased it via Office Max about 2003. Some might think it odd that I would get an executive chair but I did so for two reasons: I was doing well with my web design so I needed something I could sit cross legged if I so desired and I had a big fat cat who always wanted to sit on the chair with me. My previous chair had seen better days and with the cat, this chair gave me enough room to let him lounge on my lap while I worked. Sonny rather enjoys hanging out with me on the chair too and is doing so as I type this.

So, the options were limited and a leather chair was not (and still is not) something I would want so I had to settle for gray and for microfiber.

Microfiber, do not like. Once it's stained, it's stained forever. I plan on keeping an eye out for some fabric remnants to cover it until I can afford a new chair. I don't like the gray and it sticks out like a sore thumb in the apartment with my beige and tans as well as my autumn color scheme.

Hmmm, I wonder if anyone in my family has any leftover upholstery fabric - 3.5 yards is all I need and if there is less then I will get funky with it and do three different fabrics...one on the front and arms, one on the back and one on the seat.

So, this is in the future but hopefully sooner than later.

Happy Friday!

Textiles, How I Love Thee

2010-02-03T06:34:00.003-07:00

Table runner on the dresser as you walk in the door:

"Not trying to be artsy" shot:

Ever since I started to work on my bedroom window, I've fallen in love with textiles more than I loved them prior. I've also begun to notice other elements of the home like baskets, pottery, woods and metals. I've always loved items for the home but I think I have found a new appreciation for them as of late.

It's like starting on a raw design for web design but you can touch, feel, smell and if you want, taste it. Of course there's the visual aspect. It doesn't have to be fancy though because you can use most all your senses which makes them have such an impact for our surroundings. I need to find a job that deals with home interiors. All home decor items be that from the architectural elements (windows, doors, walls) on through the interior design just make me happy.

I found the above table runner at Ross and it wasn't until I started looking at other blogs last spring that I didn't think of buying a table runner for anything but for a dining table. Now I can see there are more uses and will be on the look out for fun ideas to hang on the wall behind my futon.

Now I wish I could bannish all the mini blinds and the vertical blinds in this place and have nice window coverings throughout at a smart price. Granted I am hoping that my circumstances change with finding a house but I desire having pretty windows throughout.

Hope everyone is having/will have a nice Wednesday!

What's on the 99¢ Menu?

2010-02-02T09:55:00.010-07:00

Please see previous entry to learn more about this curtain set.

Before:

In progress:

Hand sewing (but you can't see the stitches unless you look hard):

Now to buy a real curtain rod (like the one in my bedroom - cheap double rod) and find something to make a valance to break up the pattern a bit and have it feel a bit more finished. Also, it needs to be trained (as I have seen in other blogs)and perhaps a couple of fishing weights to help them from getting a wild hair.

Not bad for 99¢ by golly!

EDITS:

PS The cobalt blue votive holder came from my hallway table.

It's Tuesday and that means it's DIY day at A Soft Place to Land! Check it out.

Thursday already? Time for Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage!

It's fffffinally Friday and time for Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous!

OTHER EDITS:

I ended up getting a gold cafe rod from Target because the other rod requires some height in order to put the rods on the brackets and it was the cheapest of the cafe rods. So, no valance unless I make a pelmet box with only one side and somehow attach it to the ceiling.

The window is in a tight position because the duct work runs over the kitchen ceiling making it only 7' high. There is only 2 1/2" to the ceiling from the window and 4" to the corner which is not much room to work with. Oh well. It's completed for the moment. I might get creative and hang a valance from the ceiling in such a way you don't know.

Before the Blues Comes the Cheap

2010-02-01T20:15:00.005-07:00

Ross is still having their home stuff on clearance and since they are next door to Safeway I decided to see what Ross had on their deep clearance items, so check this out:

That's just on top of the bedroom curtain (outside rod) so I could get a full shot of it.

Anyhow, it's called "window in a bag": the valance, panels and the tie-backs are all included in the package.

Kind of a neat pattern. Thing is, it's super thin material (not like a sheer though) and the smell that came off it when I ironed it, reminded me of the fabrics in my grandmother's house (my mom's mom). I don't think she did much redecorating after I was born in 68!

What you don't see is the valance is integrated into the entire thing. Not separate, all one piece!

No bother, look at the price close up:

Just in case you are wondering. Hehe.

So what in the gods' names do I have in mind for that?

Ladies and gents, I have finally resolved the issue with this:

My ugly kitchen window with apartment issue mini blinds that look like they are 15 years old or more.

For 99¢ + 07326¢ tax.

The two panels are 27" wide by 78" long from where they attach to the valance. Cut the valance off each panel, fold in half, using the hemming tape (hopefully it's not stiff) attach at the top, do a quick stitch by hand up the long end edges if there's not enough tape, put on either a cheap rod ($1.57 at Target) or using the copper jewelry wire I've had for ages, fashion a few lengths of the wire across the top of the window with push pins and call it mostly covered...surely a tweak or two will happen...perhaps some ribbon detailing at the top or if I can find a small solid thing of fabric to make a real valance...ideas, ideas and more ideas.

99¢? Diggin' that!

I love to have where I am living being as complete as possible but putting much more money into making this my home with these ugly windows, although temporary, is not a good idea. For 99¢ though, I am not going to worry too much about breaking the bank for a solution for a temporary problem.

EDIT: Took out the seam ripper and the little thread scissors I have and the two panels are now detached from the valance part. Now I have a 55" x 17 1/2" valance that doesn't have a place to go. Not sure what to do with that. I guess I will think on it while I figure out how to complete the two panels.

Injecting Some Blue

2010-01-31T21:47:00.005-07:00

I've decided that I am going to expand upon the cobalt blue I had started to collect and put it (cobalt blue) in other places in my home. In order to do that without making drastic changes and to keep my finances under check yet still have quality, here is my thought process:

First we had this weird set up over my sink:

I don't know what I was thinking. I already had two more of the trivets I purchased from Hobby Lobby (all 50% off back in summer) so switched them up to this:

So, enter in the introduction of cobalt blue (with Photoshop as my partner here) without blue taking over:

Two 6 1/4" talavera tiles. Maybe two different tiles but I liked this particular design because it does incorporate some of the yellows I have around the house...so I am thinking this:

Or this:

We'll see. It's just a vision I have and whether or not I get around to doing it is another story all together. I love talavera tiles, always have. I just never liked them in a large display...the installations with using them as accent pieces or as a border work for me. In my case, since this is an apartment and I have a horrible space above the sink, I rent, this is a solution that is doable for now.

Well, off to veg out to the news. Hope it was a fine Sunday for all.

Craigslist never fails to amuse

2010-01-24T10:35:00.003-07:00

I'm not much of a hunter but I love to take photos so perhaps I will go hunt down the elusive wolfebear with my camera:

Larger:

Oh my. "Wolfe" even!

Pelmet Box/Valance DONE!

2010-01-22T23:30:00.017-07:00

(Edit to add before links: July 6, 2009 & January 19, 2010)

2 - cloth napkins - $3
1 - pillow sham - FREE w/duvet cover
1 - 20" x 30" foam core board - $2
4 1/2 yards ribbon - $3.75
tons of duct tape - on hand
12 thumb tacks - on hand
4 or 6 push pins - on hand
wee bit of hot glue - on hand

(Note: $40 retail curtain panel found @ Tuesday Morning for $10 and $3 Target double curtain rod for a project total of $21.75 not including taxes. It still needs some tweaks but not bad at all.)

I did not use any quilt batting and the ribbon (horizontal ribbon) on the outside is only held on with thumb tacks. It was pretty easy but seeing as I am Anal Annie, it takes me a long time so as not to mess it up. I did kind of mess up on one of the vertical ribbons as that's where I used the hot glue. Unless you knew it was there and where it is, it's not all that noticable.

With the horizontal ribbons, I was hesitant to glue them on as I wasn't sure I was liking it when I placed them there so I tacked them on with flat thumb tacks that I colored black with a large Sharpie. There are four in the center where the ribbons intersect, four on the outside at the end of the return and four on the inside to secure them.

I used a ton of duct tape to tape and stretch the fabric around. Next time I do a three panel like that, I hope to have a sewing machine and I would like to have had a better way to attach the fabric than duct tape.

Used one of the leftovers from the board as a brace on the back to make it more sturdy. I don't know how large these were done here but mine is 42" wide x 9" high and making it like she did it was a bit flimsy for me.

Attached (until I find something else) several push pins on the back but they aren't pushed through because the pin part is longer than the thickness of the foam board (1/8') so I could rest it on the curtain rod. I had to use a couple of rubber bands on the rod to steady them on the returns so they would stay flush with the wall. If I had the ability, I would have just put a horizontal brace (another 42" wide and 4" deep strip of the board) along the top and down about 1/4" to set it more securely on the rod. But the way I have it for the moment it will work. I will go through my misc crap (that junk box and the junk cabinet) and see if anything looks like it will work better.

All told it took me about 3 1/2 hours from the time I started to take apart the pillow sham to when I finally finished taking pics of it. There was a lot of tweaking during various stages because I am just that way.

I would definitely do this project again. Now if only I had the materials and the know-how to make one long enough for the 7' patio door here in the living room. A nice long (darker tan though) canvas backed pelmet box with outlined panels of orange and green. ;-) That would be a fun but very difficult (given the length) project.

A nice accomplishment and boy it feels good! I may link up to a few blog link-o-ramas now that I am completely done but I may take some more pictures if we have some sun.

EDIT: Because I am one of those impatient people that can't wait till morning to take more pics. I brought in the arsenal that is lighting around here to attempt to get better indoor shots and it's doable enough so here are three pics up close:

If you notice, those cloth napkins are really not bedroom "print" but that's okay. You really don't notice unless you know and are up close. From most points around the room, it's not a big deal.

The colors are off just slightly in the gold tones. The lighting really makes a huge difference in how it shows up between the satin-like parts and the more metallic threads. It's slight enough that it really takes a minute to see the difference. But somehow it works for me.

Links:

Link-O-Rama #1 - Funky Junk Interiors presents her "Saturday Nite Special"
Link-O-Rama #2 - Between Naps on the Porch takes the mundane out of Mondays with "Metamorphosis Monday"
Link-O-Rama #3 - A Soft Place to Land features her weekly "Do It Yourself Day" every Tuesday.
Link-O-Rama #4 - Totally travel to Shabby Chic's terrific Transformation Thursday too!
Link-O-Rama #5 - Finally Friday for Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous!

Apartment Tour Take 2

2010-01-21T15:05:00.005-07:00

Ah, the power of home decor/interior design. I was doing my cruise through my usual home sites and blogs and this entry from Centsational Girl really struck a cord with me. To quote her:

"One thing strikes me quite often whenever I swoon over fabulous designer spaces. Yes, they’re gorgeous. Yes, they’re mesmerizing. Yes, they make me long for a cleaner, more pulled together design in my own home.

Yet one thing is absent from all of those images, regardless of how perfect they are on the pages of a glossy magazine. Those images, those spaces, and those houses are just not home. A house is just four walls and a roof, but a home is made up of everything else inside."

So I thought to myself how true that is. Often I feel bad about my own sense of style. I do, however, take a step back and think that while my sense of decor is unique, it is uniquely me and that folks is what makes my apartment my home, for now.

I welcome you to take a tour of my home as seen this morning:

This is as you walk in the door. One of the challenges of living in an apartment and one that you haven't planned to stay very long is to make it your own. My biggest challenge has been the windows and patio doors. Out of necessity I have put up the old tab tops for heat and privacy issues. Being on a tight budget also plays into this as well; sometimes function wins out over form or design.

Also the budget constrains you to resorting to things you normally wouldn't do in your long-term home (I was only going to be here three months but I've been here since the beginning of June) like the lovely humidifier on a Rubbermaid container with a towel on it. The dresser was pulled out of my second bedroom/storage room (which wont be shown here) for an open house I had at Christmas as a place to put food on but with a bum wrist/arm shoulder I just haven't put it back. It really messes with your feng shui, not that I practice it but you know...

Challenges other than finances are using what you have. Most of my furniture is from my 20s (I am in my early 40s) or family heirlooms

Also, I'm in the process of finding another part-time job so I can fund the move to a house again. Living in a 1400 sq ft house, landlord/friend wanting to sell said house that was about $30,000 more than I could afford. So the futon stays (the big one is in the second bedroom being stored) and the 90s (maroon/forest green/dark blue) decor was taken to Goodwill and the thrifty, frugal and creative side is having fun. A lot of my updates have been from Hobby Lobby (most at 66% off or more), Goodwill, Ross, Tuesday Morning, Target, Dollar Tree and such. Some things came from Wal*Mart from just before I moved in but the bones and classics are mine from before.

Perhaps one of my design faux pas (make that plural) is that I see something and I don't really think "This item will go on _______ (insert location in home)." I generally do have a thought process but some things meant for one place end up somewhere else not intended. I swap things around (often called shopping the house) as I see fit though as I like to shake things up often. Or I pick out things that have a specific use but I use them in other ways. Metal "garden bowls" purchased at Hobby Lobby were painted black and hung on walls. Placemats ended up on shelves as a backdrop because I had them and didn't want to put them away. Trivets meant to put your hot dishes/pots on end up on walls or leaned in a shelf. It's much more fun to use things in ways you may not have thought of.

One thing I am not thrilled with is this kitchen. The stove burners are tilted so if you try to fry eggs, the oil pools. There is no prep space. But I am making do. I am a luckier one than many in that most of the apartments in my complex have full size washer and dryers in our units. A time saver, money saver and of course you put your stuff in where your dirt was and not someone else's.

Only a few things were "found" like three antique looking chairs I found near the dumpsters. I had never really been much of a "used furniture" person and certainly not near a dumpster but living in an apartment complex of over 200 residents opens up that opportunity quite often. I am now addicted to CraigsList though I haven't purchased anything off it. That will wait until I have a home that will be my own again.

Tiny hallways make for challenging decorating. Also, another humidifier (the other one bit the dust a while back) needed a spot so I grabbed the little antique desk I bought in the early 90s and while it's a bit wide, it hosts my other humidifier just fine.

Then you have the tiny bathroom. This I am so not thrilled with but what are you going to do? Decorate with what you have, a cheap shower curtain from Wal*Mart and call it done. One really doesn't spend that much time in there anyway so it hasn't seen much of a change since the first month I moved in.

My bedroom is still a work in progress but I think everyone's home is always a work in progress, this just happens to be in constant progress. But after having been having just a blanket on my bed while using quilts for warmth and putting them away in the morning, I finally found something to have on my bed so it looks finished. Not bad for $20 and it's not my real vision; it's better than the plain blanket that was there previously.

Hehe, sometimes you also buy things you normally wouldn't. A leapord print (or any animal print) is not something I would normally buy. I needed a small lampshade for the $1 lamp base I got at Hobby Lobby and this one was right at $5 from Ross. I had found an all black shade (again at Ross for $4) that looked okay but when I put the gold curtain panel up, I just wasn't enjoying it. I liked that the background had gold in it so back it went.

But yeah, this is my home for now and I am proud of it. I definitely have a unique sense of style but, my friends, that's what makes our homes our home. Show off your home with pride. What may or may not be your taste may or may not be mine. Take some inspiration perhaps or learn what it is you don't want from other people's homes. But make your home a place of sanctuary that makes you proud when you walk in the door.

Thank you for stopping by and I can't wait to see more of your homes with your unique sense of style.

Valance/Pelmet Box Concept

2010-01-20T01:04:00.009-07:00

Napkins that were going to be covering the pillows...that came with the duvet cover...that were going to be returned because I didn't like them on the bed...one of the pillow shams that has no place to be:

Right now I just put them up there to see if I still want to return the napkins (only $5) and actually use the material from the shams to tie it together. Hmmm.

The three don't go together per se but the gold/tan colors are similar, with some creativity Paint Shop Pro gave me this thought (because it's simply easier than drawing in Photoshop):

Wish I could get another curtain panel (they don't have one) or the valance they had (not going to spend the money anyway) so it is more coordinated instead of the napkins but I think I am on to something here. It doesn't have to be perfect, just better and best of all, inexpensive. Right there we are talking $15.50 which includes the cheap curtain rod...not bad.

EDIT:

Perhaps outline the top as well:

Hmmm.

EDIT x2: Check out A Soft Place to Land for DIY Day!. (One of many link-o-ramas that I come across. So much to see. So little time!)

Only $10 but needs a pelmet box

2010-01-19T22:20:00.003-07:00

Still working on the bedroom. Yesterday I was going to go to Hobby Lobby to see if they had any major discounted stuff to start some kind of project on but knowing me a little $3 item here and a little $4 item there ends up being $30 of crap I don't need in the house. Yes, a project would be very nice right now but I have other priorities at the moment.

I scooted down to Tuesday Morning because I hadn't been there in a while and took one of the shams with me to look for two things. One would be a throw pillow or two so I can get rid of the matchy-matchy pillows and/or a curtain to cover the tacky maroon tab top I have on the window. I found a panel for $10:

Close up of the pattern (need daylight pics but it was cloudy today):

It's horribly plain as is though but I LOVE the fabric and it's close enough to the tan/gold on the bed that it works. What it needs now is a pelmet box (much more casual than that as I am not a curvy person, haha) since a valance just isn't my thing.

So, after I got that hung up with a super cheap ($3) rod from Target, I started to look at the bed a bit more. Who needs all those stupid pillows? Three matchy-matchy pillows I don't like so off they went:

I do, however, need some pillows on my futon so I may find some fabric to cover them with and use them there.

So, this last weekend I did a major cleaning of the apartment. I had to stop working where I was because of the physical aspects of it were making it very difficult on my already bum wrist, elbow and shoulder (back through my trapezius muscle). Long story short, I ended up at urgent care because of the sinus infection, my arm and a badly infected finger and she told me to lay off the use of the arm for a minimum of two weeks and consume massive amounts of ibuprofen. I did some of that. I couldn't stand it anymore so I got to cleaning. The dust was bugging me so I did what closely resembles spring cleaning...it took me two days and three times the amount of time so as not to mess with the arm but it's done! YAY!

One of my projects was cleaning, with Murphy Oil Soap, my big dresser:

(Sept. 16, 2009)

(Jan. 19, 2010 - and yes I have left out some of the Christmas stuff elsewhere)

Back story: My mom bought that at an auction house back in the early to earlier of the mid 70s. (Refresher of the mirror.) I have no idea how old it is and in the years I have had it (since 1986 or 1987) I have only dusted and oiled it.

So, I attacked it with a white cloth, Murphy's and as much elbow grease my arm could muster. The entire left side of that dresser turned the cloth black! The top was just typical dirt and the right side was dirty and had some black on the cloth too. The left side of the front also turned the cloth black but the black grime faded as I went to the right side. I can't for the life of me think that it was something I ever did. So, deducing where it's been over the course of close to 40 years, the black is most likely soot from a coal fueled heat source back in the day. It is an antique so that only makes sense. I used to be a slob but that could not have happened under my watch!

So Murphy Oil Soap, I love you. Perhaps you can see how much better the grain stands out now. I really need to get it professionally refinished as that's not a project I can tackle nor would I on such a fabulous piece of furniture.

Next up is to make a pelmet box and that's a project I think can be done inexpensively and it has a good purpose. Funny how when you add something to your house it somehow can mean a new project. No matter, I like being busy!

Addition to last post

2010-01-07T20:24:00.003-07:00

I had forgotten I had this picture of the $2 vase:

Isn't she sexy? Nice curves and she's so graceful. Haha...but yeah, I meant to post it in the previous entry and I didn't feel like editing that post.

Has it really been two months since my last post?

2010-01-07T12:30:00.006-07:00

Good gracious. Time flies even when not having fun. HAHA.

Anyhow, with the holidays, the new job and such I just hadn't really found the time to do much blogging nor keep up much on other blogs, though I did go through them once in a while. That has changed temporarily for reasons I desire to not discuss here.

The last few days I have cruised through my usual haunts and I must say, I am glad the holiday season is over. So many Christmas oriented photos and such it became overload so seeing some blogs come back to normal is refreshing.

Oh, finally I did an upgrade to my bedroom:

Before - Sept 2009:

After - Jan 2010:

I happened upon that set for $20 at Ross! Sweet, I thought to myself. But not really investigating the contents until I got home I opened up the package and it was just a duvet cover with pillows and two shams. Whoops. I was so taken with the price I didn't even think to check it.

No matter. I finally had something pretty to cover the bed and buying an inexpensive comforter or preferably a thick quilt for the innerds can wait. I have left the two quilts (both are for twin beds) underneath to keep me warm at night. I pull the duvet cover down at night to keep it nice. The thing is, some might be really disappointed in discovering that their cheap find really wasn't what they thought it was but I now have a bedroom I can walk in and be proud of even if it is lacking a key component.

I think for $20 that's a good deal really. I really did want something that wasn't poofy like a comforter anyway and I had been eyeing a black quilt at Target but it was beyond my frugal nature and of course the budget. Also, this has a bit of the gold tones that are in my regular cotton sheets so it worked out. I did get some black pillow cases (on sale for $7!) and now it looks better. It's a bit matchy-matchy for my tastes right now but I am in no hurry to make it "perfect". It's far better than before so I am not complaining.

One holdover from the holidays are the gold, beaded twigs I got from Michael's craft store for 50% off before Christmas. I decided I liked how they pull out the gold tones in the vase I got for $4 from Ross back in August, they are staying out for now and I moved it to my computer desk:

Close-up for a better color comparison:

I've only added a few other things since November and all have been pretty darn cheap. I added a cord-wrapped vase for $2 on the top of my shelves:

An artsy closeup of the texture:

I also picked up its sister that is taller and not as bottom heavy and a bit more at $4.76 (both from Hobby Lobby deeply discounted):

If you notice the shorter vase, that came as triplets and who doesn't think triplets are cool? One of its siblings can be seen in the photo of my computer desk above, on the monitor stand and you can see the last one here next to the bronze and black vase (which was only $4) Though they were in a package together, they came out to only $1.83 each:

You may remember that yellow vase (with the flowers) I got at Goodwill a while back? I took someone's advice here and got a pack of northern white beans, on sale, from the grocery to fill it up. I dig it! What a great suggestion and it's kinda neat to shop the grocery for your home decor. Hehe.

The little gold votive holders I have also left out (one in the shelves and one on my computer desk) were also 50% off at Michael's before Christmas. Working next door to them can be kind of dangerous on the budget but I've been very careful about that.

Oh, and I have decided that mixing metals gold, bronze, silver and copper through your home is fun. In some cases you don't have much of a choice but if you don't get too anal about it, it's unexpected and doesn't have to look really odd. For example, my weather station has silver in it and I like it placed on my computer desk and then I have the vase with the gold, beaded twigs...I like them both so I am willing to overlook the idea they aren't the same. Given the nature of the weather station, spray painting it to be black, gold or whatever is not going to happen so they stay right where they are.

Enough of my ramblings for now. I hope everyone had a fine holiday season (whatever your beliefs) and that 2010 is a great year for everyone.

Oh, and I have to post a picture of my boys from this morning while they were soaking up the sun even though the temps outside are in the upper teens and lower 20s:

They are fast becoming buddies and as I type this, they are both licking their legs! Haha!

Work Pants

2009-11-08T12:34:00.004-07:00

Those are the work pants I picked up at Goodwill for $4.99 each. Not bad at all for the price considering even a new pair on sale at Target last week was $15.99.

These are not pants I would have normally bought; I wear jeans almost exclusively because these kinds of pants are boring and drab and I happen to like how I look in jeans that fit well. Plus, these types of pants are so IT looking. I was in IT once (full blown network IT manager and user support for a decent sized construction company) and even then I didn't wear Microsoft pants.

Yep, that's what I call them "Microsoft Pants". Granted it could be worse but in my thrifty/forced to be frugal life, Goodwill was the best option for me.

Two are brands I am not familiar with (left two) and the second to right is Merona (Target brand) and the last pair are Dockers. I am kind of bummed because I had gone and picked out the first pair, the black and the last pair of Dockers along with another pair of Dockers. The other pair of Dockers were the same size but longer in the leg yet they were too big around the waist and hips. I was quite surprised because Dockers is a Levi's brand and I rarely have problems with Levi's jeans except for the length. But what was a real drag was they were a red tag and red tags were 50% off last week so I would have had three pair at $4.99 and one pair at $2.49. Eh, I returned them, found those Meronas and that's that.

I will admit, I am in a state of sadness today. While I am still semi self-employed, I now am working outside the home for someone else and I am not real happy about that. I am a very independent woman and the thought of having to be at some place at certain times through the week (with the same walls and same people) makes me a bit sad and a bit frustrated too. I've been able to set my work schedule for most of my life since January 1994 when I moved from Colorado Springs to Grand Junction to start my outside sales career. That's close to 16 years of me calling the shots.

But for some part-time work here and there, a stint at a tile company (that's a long story), tis a long time for independence.

Anyhow, yeah, quite a bit of uneasiness about this combined with working for a large corporation. I know I can do a good job and I will do a good job but with the loss of my independence I worry.

I just hope that tonight I get a good night of sleep and this first week doesn't send me into "What am I doing? What have I done?" I do not want to be a bad employee.

Last weekend my brothers and I got the rest of the stuff out of the storage unit:

If you look carefully you can see Sonny (cat) hanging out on a very old and ugly comfortor I've had since the mid 80s. It was useful for a lot of things through the years (not on my bed though) so I will hang on to it for a while longer.

But it's kind of sad to see all your stuff fit into an 855 sq. ft. apartment when I took up a good majority of the 1400 sq. ft. house I lived in for 11 years. A ton of it is gone and thinking through some of the things I got rid of, I really wish I had just hung on to them until I had a good chance to go through my stuff. I only had three weeks from rehab to the move to get my bearings together and that was just not enough time to think things through.

I made snap decisions about what was donated and such and in hindsight, there's a lot of stuff I am regretting having gotten rid of. The clothes I donated HAD to go but some of the things that were my mom's, things I had picked out that I really liked, my own little jewelry collection, etc are gone and there's no turning back on any of that.

I guess you could say that today I am sort of in mourning. My independence is partially gone and the things that I didn't have time to make good decisions on getting rid of are somewhere in the world.

I will snap out of it but there's a lot of apprehension, sadness, anger, etc today.

I'm employed outside the home!

2009-11-02T21:39:00.005-07:00

Had an interview today with an animal daycare/kennel. I got the job!

Tomorrow I go for my pee test (I will pass with flying colors) and then when they get the results back, I am to start the day after they receive them soooo, yipeee!

I will primarily be dealing with the pet parents, taking phone calls, processing payments and such. I will also be trained to take care of those wagging tails and meowing faces and help out in the main store as needed. I think it's a good fit for me.

It's part-time and I am just fine with that. Being self-employed for so long, this will be a transition for sure but since it's part-time, the transition will be a lot easier to swallow.

Now I am thinking of all the things I can start to work towards that I have put off for so long and some of my immediate needs are a new pair of Danskos because they are the only shoe brand I own that doesn't make me want to cry (I have horrible feet). New glasses and not the cheapest either, I need glasses that can handle me using a tshirt to clean them without the minor scratching...the pair I have now weren't the cheapest but they weren't like my LensCrafters glasses (that I still have) that took a heck of a beating. Also, I can finally look for a comforter for my bed so I am not making it twice a day. Then there are the not so fun things like paying down some debt (all private as I don't have any credit cards, thankfully).

So YAY! That takes a load off my mind and I think it will be a good fit for me. I am confident I can and will do a good job because I am that way. I am not a wuss.

A couple of small projects are in the works. I went to Hobby Lobby to look at the fabric remnants on Saturday because I am tired of using a towel to block the cold air at the front door (it faces north) from the winds we get here. I found a 7/8 yard remnant (52" wide) of basic canvas for $3.67 which would have been $6.11! They had poly fill on sale so I got two of those - one for one of the dog beds (it's gone flat) and the other for making a door draft dodger. I also got two adhesive strips of Velcro to attach the draft dodger to the door so it will keep the air out when I leave the house. I will have to hand sew it but that's okay, I am going for function over beauty here.

The other project will be to use the remaining canvas to cover the front of my craft and computer shelves:

Photo from Sept. 16

I only have black thread so I thought I would have a bit of fun with it using a blanket stitch - we'll see how that goes, I haven't done embroidery stitches in years. How I am going to attach it, that's another story. In my travels tomorrow, I will see if I can find a simple tension rod like you might find for showers but on a small scale. I figure I can fit one up inside and behind the part that comes down in front. I will think more on it. I just want it to look cleaner than it does now.

So, I have a place that I will report to for work, a couple of small projects in the works and feeling like a bit of weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

Life is good. It's not perfect but this will do by golly. I hope everyone has started off their week in such a positive way too, no matter how mundane you may think it is. Sometimes it's the smaller things too.

19° and blowing snow

2009-10-29T11:25:00.004-06:00

Suffice it to say, I had called prior to my interview to make sure I had the right day and time because that's what you do, especially when you are ADD. You have to learn other ways to make sure your ADD doesn't get in the way of life. Ritalin and its generic version don't cure you (I am not currently medicated) but you do have to do things differently than most people.

Anyhow, my interview today was rescheduled for Monday. All I can say is, "Thank Goodness!"

Job interviews are nerve-wracking enough as it is but then you add in 19°F, wind chill of 1°F and crappy roads and you've got a mess a nerves just wanting to blow your whole sense of confidence.

I have to give myself a couple of bonus points. I got up when I did without grumbling because I actually had to use alarms (I use two because I am a heavy sleeper) and I prefer to wake up when I wake up. I got myself showered, dressed and had my boots on ready to go if they felt they needed to get the interviews out of the way today. I even ate a small breakfast, which is not normal for me as I am not a hungry morning person.

Looking at the long term forecast, it should be sunny and in the mid 50s on Monday so that makes me feel better about things. I don't mind this weather so much but on an important day that's not good and IMO it's too early to have arctic like weather.

I can't find any of my scarves so I may whip out the needles and start knitting one since I don't have anything to do today. I can't very well do crocheting as both hands are in disagreement with me right now so knitting it is.

Hope everyone has a fine Thursday.

Sah-weet - A Mood Booster

2009-10-28T11:00:00.003-06:00

It's very cold and snowy here in Colorado Springs today. The temp is at 24°F outside with a 13°F wind chill, snow has been (mostly) blowing sideways since I got up and with the alumimum windows and patio doors, the heat is running full force today:

So, I have all the curtains and blinds closed up in here since the windows and door are aluminum framed and in the 23 years as the building has settled, any possible ability to keep out air barely exists and as the former window and door girl it drives me batty:

It's depressing to trade off any available natural light to keep the heat in at 11:00 am. Last night I tacked up more of my tab-tob curtains behind the blinds (that don't match anything in here) in hopes of at least reducing some heat loss. I don't have the cash to get some thermal curtains so I am doing what I can with what I have.

Thankfully I keep fluorescent bulbs around, didn't give away the uplights I've had forever when I moved so now I have six lights in here to brighten it up a bit. It feels more like a cave today than normal. (All six lights are running at less than two 75 watt bulbs, by golly!)

Oh well. During my daily blog run (still working on it) I stopped by Funky Junk Interiors and Donna highlighted some projects from her first "Saturday Night Special" link party. I scroll down and there I am, she featured my tissue box project along with several others. I feel so honored!

That was a mood booster for sure. I've been feeling blue for the last two days and it hasn't helped that I feel I need to close the apartment up so it was very nice to see that!

BTW, that green step stool in the second pic is out here because the wand broke to the vertical blinds last week. They can't repair it as they are pretty old (a metal part broke on the carrier) so I am waiting on them to replace the blinds. In the meantime I have to use a pair of needle-nose to twist the blinds open and to push them towards the other end. I really, really want a house. Must find a part-time job (interview tomorrow, thankfully) then after that, it's house hunting time!

Hope everyone is having a fine day and if you are in the area of the winter storm, stay warm!

Working With What You Have

2009-10-25T17:42:00.010-06:00

My schefflera cutting needed a more presentable place to dwell:

Like this:

Use what you have:

Carefully place bamboo skewers against square, (coffee helps):

Measure, tape, pencil 3 1/2" line, cut with needlenose pliers while watching some fly across room, tape, repeat with the now shorter skewers:

Wrap around plastic tub/container, tie with jute twine, remove tape:

Happy Liz. Happy plant.

Virtually no cost because I had everything on hand.

Hope everyone has a fine week!

EDITS to link back to various "link parties" this week to appear below. Changes as they warrant. Click through and see what everyone else is up to!

First is: Sanctuary Arts Before and After Links (hope my little project is within the scope of the link party...if not, I feel like a dope, I don't think I have linked over on her blog before).

Of course: Metamorphosis Monday on Between Naps on the Porch. Yep, pretty sure this fits because my little schefflera has new digs to show off her growing branches and is transforming with each week.

Tuesday means: DIY Day @ A Soft Place to Land. Always a lot of projects here to see there so make some time in your day as there are usually around 200 links to click through to view creativity at its finest.

Thursday means: Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage. Another link party that you should put aside some time. Glad that she's having it today because I am stuck at home with nothing to do.

Finally Friday: Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous! Of course I didn't pay full price for my project...the paper clip container would have gone in the trash several weeks ago but I am not one to throw things away. The bamboo skewers I cut up I've had for forever and a day which I bought at King Soopers (our flavor of Kroger) and it's been so long I haven't a clue what I paid for them while the jute was leftover from other projects so basically it was all FREE!

Lazy, lazy afternoon

2009-10-17T17:17:00.003-06:00

Just a few pics of my boys this afternoon. The house is clean, the sun was shining in the back patio door so the three of us kind of congregated there to experience some passive solar heat.

Later I ended up falling asleep on the couch with Sonny while watching "Antiques Roadshow". Not much else to do so why not?

Copied from my Facebook - reflecting on today and life in general

2009-10-14T21:02:00.009-06:00

I may not have wealth but I have my health. Today was a fine day and a few things that made it fine: Sunshine, dog having fun at park, kitty on my lap, looong hot shower, home-cooked meal in less than five minutes (leftovers rock), finishing my tissue box cover, finding a friend from high school...

I mean, life could always be better but sometimes it is the small things that count.

I mean, sure I need a job but right now I have a roof over my head with heat. I have food in my kitchen. I am sober. I have a car (The Flintstone Mobile), though it's not fancy. My cat and my dog help keep me sane and I love them dearly. My family rocks as do my friends.

I don't think I have been this settled in my mind for 12-14 years. I've got a lot of internal work to do but life does not suck.

----------

Oh and just for grins. Here's a picture from the house I lived in for 11 years because I dislike posting without at least adding a picture...

How I MISS having a kitchen with a decent stove and look at that counter space!:

The stuff on the counter is stuff to make New Mexican Pork Stew aka Chile Verde.

I may have to make some green chile soon! When I do, I will post the recipe...it rivals most any green chile you can find in the state of Colorado. ;-)

PS Don't mind the yellow round area under the paper towels. I had tried with all my might to clean that stuff off but it was not budging. My landlord/friend had the paper towel holder there before I moved in so that wall had seen a lot of years of reaching for towels with dirty hands.

Big Girls Don't Cry

2009-10-14T14:39:00.013-06:00

But this big girl has year-round allergies. Doesn't help that I have been battling a persistant sinus infection for 11 months now so I buy a lot of tissues and I leave a box in my living room for quick access.

I get the larger boxes of tissues because you get more tissues for your money. Also, for even better savings I get the Kroger brand tissues or I find them at Dollar Tree. The thing is, I am not a fan of the designs on tissue boxes at all. Some people think I am a bit overly anal because of this but when I display them in my living room I prefer to have tissue boxes covered. I've been painting the boxes with black acrylic craft paint but that gets old. I had gotten a cover from Hobby Lobby for $4 so at least it was covered but plain balsa wood doesn't do it for me either.

The other day I picked up wood pieces from HL and later realized I didn't have decent glue so I picked up some Elmer's wood glue at Target since I had to make a trip there anyway.

Several months back I ran across this Mod Tissue Box Cover project on Crafty Nest. While my home is not "mod" I do like simple lines and understated pieces. I present you with my interpretation of her project:

I like it despite its flaws and I am always proud of my small accomplishments now because so much of my life had centered around alcohol. I always had intentions of doing things like this but rarely did. In addition, I had a lot of unfinished projects and while my ADD is mostly to blame, the alcohol made it much more difficult to just get things done.

Anyhow, a few pointers on this project:

* Sand your project even if it "feels" okay. Basic acrylic craft paint will highlight the grain if not very well sanded. I didn't do it and in hindsight I wish I had.

* In this project, choose your balsa wood cut-outs carefully. Paint will show flaws and the glue did warp the wood a bit.

* Carefully measure if you are particular about this kind of thing, I am. I know the flaws and it bugs me.

* After gluing the parts together (I applied the wood glue with a paintbrush on both surfaces), let it set up a bit before you weight it down. I didn't on the end side and the last two pieces shifted so they are off from their original marks.

Over all, I rate this super simple and a pretty cheap project. Had I already had the glue, the total cost with the box and the packet of wood pieces (paint was 99¢ but already had some, used about half a 2 oz bottle) was $6.33 before taxes. I'd say for a custom piece, that's a bargain...

I can see this done in many different ways for baby's rooms, kid's rooms, offices, etc. Heck, this would be a good house warming gift if you know your friend's or relative's decor.

When I went to Hobby Lobby to pick up the wood cutouts, they had 50% off all their candles and candle holders (that was this week so go get em while they're cheap). I picked up a simple votive holder from the candle making isle for $1.34! Sometimes you just need to slowly browse HL to see things that are a bit hidden. I mean, I had no intention of making any candles yet I saw it and saw in my mind a different application:

I already had the votives and the sand. I think it was actually meant to pour your own candle wax and put several wicks in it:

(not the best pics, they really do look better in person)

I love to have nice smelling candles lit so having an inexpensive (frugal/cheap) way to display them is a great thing.

Wow, Wednesday already? Hope everyone is having a fine week!

EDIT Wed. 8:32 pm: Though it's not Thursday yet, hop on over to The Shabby Chic Cottage for Gina's Transformation Thursday. Keep checking back through tomorrow as there are usually a ton of fun projects to see.

I hope my tissue box cover follows in the guidelines of a transformation. I didn't take any before pics but I could take a pic of the box of tissues with black craft paint on it. ;-) I don't think that's needed.

Also, while you are there, please lend her some support as her mother-in-law is in ICU.

EDIT Sat. 10-17 12:50 pm: I love her blog, she has so much my style so check it out: Funky Junk Interiors - "Saturday Nite Special" Lots of new and old DIY projects. Fun stuff!

Whole Chicken in the Crock Pot

2009-10-13T21:07:00.005-06:00

I purposely didn't take a close up because chicken (cooked or raw) is not very photogenic. But here's the aftermath of my dinner...and I am about to lapse into a food coma right now:

Super simple and followed Stephanie O’Dea's version of a whole chicken in the Crock Pot. I used 1/3 cup of Italian dressing, didn't cut off the skin (lots of flavor there) and added in a chopped onion, roughly (rustic) chopped garlic cloves (a few of which I put in the bird), a bit of salt and a lot of fresh ground pepper.

I have never cooked a whole chicken before, just seemed like a lot of trouble for 4-5 pounds of meat. Now, a turkey on the other hand, I made my first turkey (successfully) at the age of 20 so that makes sense if you have to tend to it when you are talking a 14+ pound bird. I've even made them just for me to freeze and use in other dishes.

In fact, I rarely eat meat or poultry at home because of the time factor. The Crock Pot on the other hand I will cook meat and chicken parts more often because prep time is short and there's no tending. Lately though, I haven't purchased any chicken because of the cost factor. I thought I would try a whole chicken just for the grins and at 99¢ a pound, I can deal.

When I pulled it out of the Crock with the tongs, the wings and the legs fell off. The breast meat was protected by the breast bones but it was juicy as can be. I put the bird with the breast side down so that helped a lot. But so much of it just fell off I had to fish it out of the juices.

Speaking of juices, the juices will go into the fridge so I can skim off the fat and based on the container I put it in, I should net 2 cups.

It was so good I had two portions along with a whole baked potato that I had cooked in the 1 quart Crock at the same time. It too was perfect. I never eat that much in a sitting!

In the morning I will pick apart the rest of it so it's nice and cold, save the rest of the bones for chicken broth and put some in the freezer for later.

While my 4 quart Crock Pot is ugly, it's about 17 years old and given what I have experienced (from my other Crock Pot) and from other people's experiences, the older the better as the older Crock Pots seem to have more consistant heat, don't have hot spots and the times given for most recipes are straight on.

Okay, had some instant coffee drink (Kroger's version of GF's International Coffee) so it was just enough kick without the serious kick of brewed coffee and since I can't fathom eating anymore, I got my sweet tooth satisfied too.

Oh yeah, I will make this again and vary it as I normally do with most recipes.

The Little Schefflera That Could

2009-10-12T14:36:00.005-06:00

Thinking up interesting subject headers can be daunting. Especially when I am waiting for a call and my ADD really pops out.

Anyhow, the last week in August I had to cut back my schefflera (umbrella tree) because the lighting in the apartment was vastly different than the lighting in the house I lived in for 11 years. The leaves started dropping, the color turned a yellow green and it just looked sad. It's like living in a cave sometimes here. The big plant is doing better but I saved one of the better cuttings, planted it in some Miracle Grow potting soil, covered it with a portion of a 2 liter seltzer water bottle and today, "she" can live without being in constant humidity:

I know it looks odd with the bamboo skewers there, but I used those to slowly prop up the 2 liter bottle cover over a few days so it would acclimate to lower humidity levels. I almost lost it when I took the cover off for a couple of hours (it drooped like a sad puppy that's been scolded) but I quickly covered it up and then started adding the skewers after it perked up.

In a year or two I will have a bigger bushy tree and I did it without the strongly suggested use of vermiculite and rooting hormone and for free. Its parent was not much bigger than this when I got it at Wal*Mart many years ago so yay for free/cheap!

Have a fab Monday!

EDIT Tues. 2:45pm: Check out all the fun over at Kimba's Do It Yourself Day. She recently moved it from Thursday to Tuesday so bookmark it and check it out!

PS She's having a give-away but I am not there for that, I just am proud that my schefflera cutting has made it this far. :-)

Went to bed in October, woke up in January

2009-10-10T11:51:00.004-06:00

We've had pretty up and down weather since last March around here and today is one of those days where you want to just stay inside, drink oodles of hot coffee (tea or hot chocolate) and watch movies:

Colorado's Front Range is funny that way. Here are the weather conditions in Breckenridge, CO:

Note that Breck is a ski resort and at the base of the ski area it's 9600 feet in altitude.

You get those arctic cold fronts coming down here and they can't make it over the mountains into the high country so sometimes you see very warm weather up there while we are in the deep freeze. These temps are more for January, not October thank you very much.

Oh yeah, I wanna stay indoors all day.

Hoping everyone is having a great weekend!

A wee bit of extra

2009-10-09T12:29:00.007-06:00

I was able to get close to my asking price for the fridge yesterday (which was more than I had budgeted for to get some things paid) so I stopped at Hobby Lobby on the way home. Yeah, I know, I shouldn't have but I wanted to take advantage of the sales they have on fall decor because they are the colors that I am decorating with year round anyway...50% off on all their fall floral works for me:

Desk with the Goodwill vase I got but the filler needs something better. I put tissue paper in there for now to secure the stem of the floral spray:

I will worry about the filler when I see what I think I am looking for (the vase is a pretty cheap and thin glass so no glass beads, that'd be too heavy) and hope it's cheap. I may line it with a white fabric as I have a white pillow case in the storage unit that I can cut up...

So the big pitcher got its own pretty too at 50% off:

The oranges and the yellows are almost perfect matches. Not apparent in the picture is it brings out the brown in some of the design and the lighter greens in the floral stem pop out a bit too with the green of the pitcher.

The little pitcher in the kitchen was adorned with a floral spray too:

While it doesn't have sunflowers in it, I like it. Never mind the very ripe banana, that's going to be consumed with lunch here pretty soon.

But I like the additions. Granted fake flowers and greenery from Hobby Lobby isn't exactly magazine worthy, I am liking the completeness of having them and it's my house and not for House Beautiful - hehe.

Oh and two last pictures of a couple of items I pulled from the storage unit:

The "tile" looking thing is an item my dad and step-mom brought back for me from a trip they were on but I don't recall where. I suspect Mexico but it's not one of my step-mom's bro's pieces (he's an artist in Mexico). But funny that, it goes with my current colors! The yellow matches and the rusty orange goes with other oranges in the house. Funny that, the outline before the "frame" part is a colbalt blue glaze. Interesting.

The cat figurines are part of a ton of cats my mom had collected. I got rid of many of them and kept the best of the best and those two were up there along with the Egyptian one she had brought back from well, Egypt in the very early 80s.

So, I spent a little extra dough that I probably should have saved for something a bit more logical. But I did do a bit of shopping with some of the stuff I already have so I guess it kind of balances out.

Have a great weekend!

EDIT 1:30 pm: Ah, I am going to post this for: Frugalicious Friday with Jane @ Finding Fabulous! Go link to your fabulous not-full-price find today or over the weekend!

EDIT x2 2:30 pm: My first, only and last "Hooked on Fridays" link.

- I've been reading Julia's blog for a loooong time but never posted a link in her McLinky on Fridays. I figured since it's the last of her "Hooked on Fridays" link-o-rama, I'd go ahead and join in. Lots of fun stuff to see on her blog on a regular basis.

EDIT: Monday 10-12: Oh yeah, my favorite thing on Mondays (well in my daily blog cruising) is Metamorphosis Monday on Between Naps on the Porch. Lots of great ideas to be had from places all over the blog world!

Still alive and kickin'

2009-10-07T16:24:00.009-06:00

Not much happening in my little household. Started to get stuff out of my storage unit so I can get rid of one expense while I look for a house. This means I have to (sadly) get rid of my washer, dryer and refrigerator.

Anyhow, made a few minor changes to the apartment with it being fall and the fact the heater is now working from about midnight till early afternoon when the passive solar heat (even in this dark cave) warms up my place...AND with living in a semi-arid climate it's dry anyway but then you add in the heater, you've got dry air, nose, skin and dust just collects and moves with any poof of air. (That's a lousy sentence!)

I wanted to find a little stand at Goodwill to put one of the humidifiers in the little hallway but didn't find anything. Ideally it would have been about 14" max deep, since they didn't have anything I got some long sleeve tops and a couple more tshirts to wear instead. All in excellent shape. So, Monday when I went to clean out the fridge I brought back the little antique desk I bought back in about 1991 and while it's 18" deep, it will have to do. "Work with what you have", right? It's a tight squeeze but I put it in the hallway with a few items from the storage unit:

I had started to collect colbalt blue glass back in the day and I still love them so they were unpacked and put on the little desk with some craft dowels and bamboo skewers in the vase...because I had them. Along with a couple of candle holders and it completes the desk a bit...I am not happy that it's so large for the hallway (perfect in width though) but it will do for now.

So, introducing another humidifier (two is all I need and my large 4 gallon Vornado is a bit much for this little place) I had to adjust a few things around in the living room:

I had my aunt and uncle over for dinner last week so it gave me incentive to get those dopey built in shelves straighted out:

I use them to house my purse, keys, gloves, cell phone as well as my gloves, bags to take the dog out and clean up after (wish my neighbors would do the same) and the ashes of my past animals (I know, I am weird - brother calls them "dog in a box" and "cat in a box" - he still has his "dogs in a box" ashes too so I don't feel too odd.

My knitting needles are up top, a yellow vase I intended to put some fall flowers in that I got at Goodwill but the Dollar Tree was out of them, and a few other doodads.

Yesterday when I was out getting a few groceries, dog and cat food I picked up a gourd, a squash and a pumpkin to put on my computer desk:

See the little orange box holding my paper and note pads? That's a Kroger granola cereal box I painted to keep those along with a pen and Sharpie handy right at my desk.

Also, I was at Ross (gotta see their clearance stuff) and they finally had the avocado green bamboo placemats listed for $2.99 (for a set of 4, I had been waiting for them to either be sold or go on clearance) so I picked those up to backdrop my shelves like the orange placemats above. It's still a strange application but I like them...oh I put the other two under the dark baskets on my living room coffee table.

Other than a few (very few) Christmas items, that's all the decor I am going to be doing until I move - whenever that is...

I've been busy reading blogs though. Everyday I go through them and wish I had a tad bit more $ to add in some fall decor because there are so many great ideas. But that's okay. I have a lot of orange and other fall colors in my home.

"Work with what you've got!"

This picture electrifies me

2009-09-24T17:13:00.009-06:00

This has always been one of my favorite pictures. I got it at Pier 1 back in the mid 90s for about $20 and silly me spent $100 to have it framed. It had that typical "poster" white border around it which I didn't like. Took it to the local frame store* where I had it nicely framed and I have loved it since.

The problem is that since I moved, it's just sort of faded into wall with the frame, though it never bothered me before:

So I made a change (wish I could get a better pic of it though):

As always, a photo taken with a p&s is pretty difficult but I think it pops out a lot more.

The funny thing is, I used electrical tape to cover the existing frame. I did that for a few reasons:

1. Spray painting is not much of an option this time of year between the colder weather and the wind we tend to get right now. I would need to haul it to my bro's house but I have something else I want to do with my black paint.
2. Spray painting should be done with the contents taken out of the frame so as not to destroy the matting and the print (it can be done but I don't want to chance it).
3. I really want to frame it like the two wolf pictures with the barn wood.
4. I'd rather wait until I move to see if reframing it see if that kind of frame is what I want when a house is finally found.
4a. I need money to reframe it.

Tehe, I had been thinking about it for a while and while I was taking stuff down to dust I decided to go ahead and just do it. It's kind of lame but as outlined above, it's just not going to happen.

Also, it's a totally non-committal way to see if something is going to work and basically free since I already had the tape. It works for the time being and while I like the original color, I needed it to pop more for the 2000s. :-)

A couple of notes:

The orange box next to my monitor stand is actually a Kroger granola box I painted to contain my papers and pens. Things I use a lot and also holds mail that needs attention.

Speaking of the monitor stand. My younger bro has some primer spray so I am going to take the stand over to his house, prime it and spray paint it black.

My computer "desk" is actually a dinette table I bought back in 1997 for its current use. I have decided that I am going to strip the polyurethane finish off and stain it to this color (may vary on your monitor - mine is calibrated):

And not put any poly back on. I want this table to age (look more rustic)...more on that later. My computer desk looks darker in the photos than it really is but it's your basic pine with no stain but a protective polyurethane finish. I may have the stain be a bit more grey than that though...

* The frame shop I went into happened to employ a woman I knew in high school. She was friends with my brother (a year younger than me) and she was totally shocked when I addressed her by her maiden name. This happened when I lived in Grand Junction so when you move 300 miles from your home town, got married and is asked if your name is based on your last name,
it's mighty shocking. It was really cool to see her and she did a great job with helping me choose the matting and frame for a $20 print.

Mirror, Mirror on the floor

2009-09-16T22:24:00.003-06:00

This is the mirror and the anchors (whatever you call them) that attach to the dresser in my bedroom:

While I am in the apartment I don't desire to mount the mirror as it's pretty heavy, it's an antique (my mom bought the dresser at a local auction house in the 70s), and one of the bolts that screws to hold the mirror to the side anchors needs a bit of TLC.

No worries, the halo in each pic is from the flash. It's nearly impossible to get a decent photo of a mirror like that when you don't have the right lighting and the right camera.

Also, I wanted to show a bit of a closer up pic to show the bevel in it a bit better.

Hehe, yeah, I have some lounge pants on with socks because it's been a chilly and rainy day in Colorado Springs!

Apartment Tour: In one post!

2009-09-16T18:15:00.002-06:00

I've been feeling a bit blue & anxiety ridden lately

2009-09-15T22:33:00.002-06:00

Then you see moments like this:

Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool

My talker boy is vegging out on the futon as if the world is just a-okay!

I should get in the business of helping property owners during remodels

2009-09-13T15:35:00.007-06:00

These apartments were built around 1986 and over the last year or so as time allows, they have been upgrading/remodeling the kitchens and bathrooms. I would seriously like to get my hands on the bonehead that picked out these low-flow toilets for these tiny bathrooms:

Not only that, I would like to give the brilliant designer of this toilet a toothbrush and have him/her clean this stupid thing after a weekend frat party.

Seriously, as it is, you can barely fit a small trash can between the toilet and the tub and you can't fit one between the toilet and the vanity. It is literally a pain to clean and I can't imagine larger people having much patience trying to clean that and behind it either...Ow, ow, ow. I seriously dislike cleaning bathrooms as it is but I really hate cleaning this one.

I had to erase the mounting bolts with Photoshop because they are missing the caps and you can imagine how nasty that is. I attempted to show the depth of the contours with a quarter but perhaps it didn't come across as well as I had hoped...regardless, what a crappy design and what a crappy place to put such a horribly designed toilet. (Pun not intended. HA!)

When remodeling a kitchen or bath, it is important to take into consideration such mundane things as cleaning. Architects often don't think about the fact that you may need just 6 more inches to make a bathroom usable and cleanable, especially when it's the only bath in the living space. In addition, the people that picked out these toilets for the bathrooms did a poor job of selecting them.

--------------------

Hope everyone has had a fine weekend. Mine has been filled with major cleaning, including washing my flannel sheets today since I ended up with three blankets to keep me warm last night. They are a dark green, not the bluer or grassier 90s green but a deep pine green. While they don't exactly go with my decor, they are warm and oh so comfortable! Fall nights have definitely arrived on Colorado's Front Range.

Internet social networking break

2009-09-08T17:01:00.004-06:00

I am going to take a short break from social networking on all levels. I probably will keep up with my Facebook because of family I have on there but for now this and my Live Journal will be not updated.

How long that time frame is, I don't know. I've been known to take a couple of days to much longer. I think it will be in my best interest to stop posting for a while.

Catch everyone later.

Insomnia, yer killin' me

2009-09-08T02:50:00.002-06:00

I have issues with insomnia here and there and when it hits, it really messes up my schedule. Granted I don't have a schedule but I do try to live like most other humans and be awake during the day.

This was not a problem for me when I was younger...pulling an all-nighter but these days my brain just doesn't work that way.

Well, I had mentioned here that the other vase needs a makeover too. I still haven't come up with an idea on the final design for the yellow vase but I am not in a hurry to get that one done until I see it really click in my head.

Here are the close up pictures of the other vase and a better picture of it with its shelf mates:

I kind of like it as it is and it certainly has a nice texture to it but it just seems to not have as much oomph as it once did. The other issue is I would have to use what I have on hand with regards to paints. I have a flat black and a satin "espresso" so those would be easy to use and probably only two coats needed without a primer. I also have two metallic acrylic paints, bronze and antique gold (1 - 2 oz bottle each).

Perhaps this is one of those I wait until I have a solid idea because the texture on it makes it a bit funky to visualize what it would look like if I did a dark background with dry brushing a metallic on it. If I were to do it, I would use the bronze because it's more coppery than what I think of when I think of bronze.

Someone mentioned spray painting as a commitment and that is a difficult thing. I tend to agree when it comes to this specific piece as it isn't as outdated as my "Jaws" vase.

Okay. Because it's now 2:50 am I should shelve this idea for now...haha, pun was not intended but makes me giggle it even came to mind.

Under employed means lots of time to think

2009-09-06T21:03:00.005-06:00

Especially when you want to work on the decor in your home, specifically your bedroom since the temps are flipping between fall and summer. It's a time where one may want to make the bedroom more inviting and cozy.

I'm still a bit embarassed that I don't have a decent comforter, duvet or even a fine bedspread:

But in thinking about what I desire versus my budget and what's out there, it dawned on me what I want...it's based on an episode of "Will and Grace" (I think the one where Grace brought her answering machine to a lodge or something after a breakup with Leo) oddly enough so you know it's been in my brain a long time. Oh and subway tiles:

My thought process goes something like this:

Browns, blacks, creams, tans, etc. Much more random than what I was able to come up with on the computer but this will require me to: Get a sewing machine (a good one as the old one hosed up after a couple of years), comb through thrift stores (other places too) to find garments with the colors I desire, time and space. I have the time but the rest I don't really have.

I thought going with something like that, I could make a bed spread but that's a HUGE undertaking and an actual quilt will never happen as I have never quilted. I haven't used a sewing machine in more than 15 years but that's easy to pick back up. So if I am able to accomplish this my first goal is to get a sewing machine. I also thought that a duvet cover would make more sense. Then I could get a duvet/down comforter that would at least get started on my goal and to look at it naked all the time would inspire me to seek out thrift garments, look on Freecycle and ask relatives and friends to keep me in mind if they plan to get rid of anything from garments to sheets to whatever has fabric in my color scheme.

I have a lot of great ideas but the follow through is a huge hurdle for me. I am doctor identified as ADD (back when I was 15 and back before it was the "it" diagnosis) and it really is true that finishing a big project, unless I hyper focus, seems to be something I am unable to do. Although when medicated I can actually get and stay on task...but that's another post entirely.

So, that's my idea that's been recycled in my brain from several years ago. I think of the possibilities of finding old garments, other fabrics and such and how fun that would be to put together. Now I just have to get a job so I can start on that goal and so I can get other goals accomplished.

EDIT: I just found the name of the episode - "Saving Grace, Again: Part 2" which is described on IMDB as:

Original Air Date—18 November 2004

After taking Grace out of town to forget about Leo and their anniversary, Will and Grace stay at a hotel and Will hopes that Grace will finally find some peace. But, Will finds out that Grace has brought the answering machine with Leo's message on it with her and forces her to get rid of it so she stops thinking about going to the roof of Peninsula Hotel to meet Leo or not. Jack has to make up an idea for a promo for Out TV and meets the perfect actor for it in a hotel where he is working as a Bell Boy. Also, other people at the network think the actor is perfect, but when it comes to shooting the actor feels demeaned by the words he is supposed to say.

It's showing on Lifetime this Wednesday according to IMDB and I am bummed that I don't have cable. I'd be curious to know if in fact that was the episode I saw the comforters/bedspreads that had me wanting one like it so long ago...

Basket Makeover!

2009-09-05T20:03:00.012-06:00

I bought the following basket about 1996 or 1997 when I lived in the Denver Metro area. It went well with the wire and wicker shelving for my bathroom. The shelving doesn't have apples in the motif but the color was the same (forest green) and I think I got them from Linen's N' Things...anyhow, here's the before shot:

For a while now I was thinking I would have to replace it with a new basket but it dawned on me this morning to clip the wicker pieces that were holding the upper part on the basket. Like, whoa (taps side of head). I was going to paint it with avocado green or burnt orange but as I have stated before, painting baskets with a brush is a pain in the butt so I pulled out "carrot" Super Saver yarn (since I already had it) and made what basically is a wide headband about 1 1/2" smaller than the perimeter of the top of the basket (it's a bit smaller on the bottom) and here we have a cheap and easy finished product:

I store some of my office supplies in it and the clear plastic thing peeking out is a peanut butter jar with my paper clips in it. It's mostly covered so I am not going to get too involved with making that pretty.

Here it is with its shelf-mates and you might notice I finally spray painted the blue basket which makes it look much more cohesive:

Bonus part of that is only my thumb would go numb instead of the thumb, pointer finger and middle finger so now I can put more emphasis in finishing my afghan.

Well, I hope everyone is having a fine holiday weekend. It's been pretty quiet around the apartment complex but I wont hold my breath for it to remain that way.

EDIT: 9:25 pm

Oh, I did a similar thing for a banker's box under my computer table (pardon the wires, I need to secure them out of the way):

I use it as a foot rest and the cat also hangs out on top and between the box and the warmth of the tower...

PS I really despise that ugly, very, very ugly "chandelier". It's just dreadful!

EDIT: Sunday 3:50 pm Oh, a bit early but I think this post is well suited for Metamorphosis Monday! Yes, it's still Sunday but with the holiday weekend, might as well get a jump on things.

Check out the links and add yours at her blog!

EDIT MANIA: Sun 6:00 pm Another link list Trash to Treasures + she's going to have a "giveaway". Stop by, check out the other links and add yours! Yay for having some idle time to click through all these links I am finding today!

EDIT yet again! Mon 2:15 pm I can't pass this one up, Thrifty Decor Chick was the second blog I fell in love with when I started looking at ways to update my decor. She's a master at this decorating thing as far as I am concerned so go check out the Before & After links other people have posted. Oh my. This poor little post is getting edited like never before a post of mine has. :-)

Worthwhile Weekend Project

2009-09-03T11:38:00.011-06:00

I grew up around the manufacturing of and eventually sold windows and doors and an often neglected or item that people put off is cleaning their windows and doors.

Picture from stock.xchng user = Henriette downloaded 10/25/05

Last night I ran to Target to get the cheap window cleaner they sell ("Compare to Windex®" - $1.12). I prefer to use a professional grade for obvious reasons but these windows and the patio doors have been long neglected and I was not in the mood to use my expensive window and glass cleaner on their (apartment complex's) property. I don't mind using it for the mirror in the bath because I have to use it to see all my imperfections. Well, okay, my perfections as God had in mind. (grin)

Anyhow, I used up about 1/3 of the 32 oz bottle to get the what seems like years of ick off them. I have two 3'0" x 5'9" windows, a 5'0" patio door, a 7'0" patio door and the tiny kitchen window is 2'0" x 3'0". All of which were nasty as can be. I don't desire to attempt the outside of the one in my bedroom room as there is a spiky juniper tree right in front of it but I did get the inside. That's a lot of window cleaner, not to mention I attacked paint and stain drippings and other odd grossness that needed a razor blade to clean them off. For the five windows and doors minus the exterior of the one, it took me about 2 hours to get them decent. There are years of water stains, scratches from people using the wrong tools to clean and such I can't get off but they are so much better now.

While cleaning windows, patio/garden/french doors and lites in your other doors is kind of a pain in the butt, I recommend using this long weekend (for those in the US) to tackle them. It makes a huge difference in how clean your home feels. I'm glad the apt I am renting is on a bottom floor, sure makes it easier for a lot of reasons but also for me to tackle cleaning the windows.

Besides, Jake likes to leave all kinds of nose prints on the glass around here and that drives me batty. Now if only I would get to cleaning my car with the same enthusiasm.

Here's a pic of Jake from last night:
- a dog's life sure is rough, aint it?

EDIT: Oh and while I am at it:

I think this post sort of fits in with these two:

Go to their sites and check out what other people are up to. Much more imaginative than my post but some good stuff to peruse.

If this particular post isn't what you expected, these two might fit better: this post and this post may tickle your fancy.

Vase Ideas

2009-08-31T18:36:00.003-06:00

Here are three of the ideas I came up (although #3 is just a concept, not a design):

#1 would be the most likely but contained to two strips, a bigger one up towards the bulbous area at the top portion and a smaller one at the bottom...maybe. It goes with the "garden bowls" as pictured.

#2 would be good to carry as a secondary pattern at the bottom instead of having two sets of the circles as outlined in #1.

#3 like I said is more a concept but goes with the idea of combining #1 and #2. I wouldn't do a raised or relief pattern (though it could be done with Paperclay).

I have a ton more ideas but mostly have narrowed it down, thank goodness as I am not one that can make a decision like that unless I just go ahead and do it.

Monday! Glad you're almost over.

Just Sunday ramblings

2009-08-30T16:58:00.005-06:00

So, what's happening? Not much here as I haven't been sleeping well and today has been cloudy and in the low 60s and is now about 57°.

With lack of sleep comes me doing goofy things. I bought a vase back in about 1995 from Pier 1 pictured here on the shelf just above the "EL-YEA" newsprint plate (the one on the top shelf, also from Pier 1 still has the price tag on it!):

Up close:

So I got bored with it, sanded it down and painted it:

Yes, those are Broncos fans - I am watching the game while typing this up...hehe.

I was going to go with an orange but I need more yellow in here to balance out the orange and green I have. I used a basic acrylic paint and while it will take a few coats, I like that it's brushed on. It adds a bit of character. I need to put another coat of "golden straw" on it and then decide what simple geometric pattern to paint on it.

I've grabbed various pictures from a Google search on patterns I like but finding the right one that wont be too hard to paint on there with the nature of the curves is difficult for me. From scale to actually being able to paint on a surface that isn't more uniform (perfectly cylindrical or just plain flat) has me a bit nervous. I am nervous as it is that I may have ruined a good vase but I was bored with the color, it didn't have as much pop as I would like and I already had it on hand.

The vase on the top shelf may meet a similar fate. It is a textured surface so I thought a glossy paint would be fun although I would rather go with a semi-gloss or satin as gloss paint kind of scares me.

Anyhow, with my lack of work, I am constantly mixing things up around here. Sonny (cat) chewed the fake plant that was in the pitcher in my kitchen so it ended up in a vase on my ancient speaker.

Oh that Hobby Lobby piece I painted the other day ended up here:

Another "it needed a place to hang out" like the orange bamboo placemats. I put it there just for grins to cover a nail hole from a picture I put up there before the mirrors went up. I've just left it there and it's grown on me.

On Friday I repotted my plants, seriously trimmed my schefflera (umbrella tree) and my philodendron. Since the move, they have been looking pretty sad. They both survived my stay at Parker Valley though. They didn't get any water for a month and then moving here with a lot less light, they've lost even more of their vigor. Both needed some serious TLC and I hope I didn't love them to death. ;-)

I have a cutting from the schefflera in soil knowing it's a small chance with no rooting hormone, using soil and the particular cutting I used it will grow, but there's hope. I put two cuttings of the philodendron in water instead of soil propagation which I have been successful with in the past but decided not to do it this time.

I guess that's all I have for now. There's just enough juice for my camera to last until Tuesday so if I finish painting the one vase before then, I will certainly post more.

If it weren't so early I would just crawl into bed, watch the game as long as I could and just go to sleep. My brain and body need a very good sleep.

Hope everyone had a fine weekend!

How I covet thee

2009-08-28T09:14:00.007-06:00

Not much inspires me in the morning. I am especially not inspired with a lack of sleep. In fact, I probably am much less agreeable this morning than I am usually as I am not a morning person with 6 hours of broken sleep...

Anyhow, I saw this and I jumped an inch out of my chair:

Okay, I didn't jump as I don't have the energy but that fabric is just my style. It's casual as demonstrated in a painted log cabin room yet adds a bit of sophistication with it's structured pattern. This is what I could see stand the test of time in style vs. trend.

This fabric design would fit with most any style of furniture in a wide variety of settings. Of course I could see it in my home! I also could see it in a variety of beautiful colors but I personally like it as is.

Now I am feeling a bit less dramatic in the head and that's a good thing.

Oh how I love my morning blog run.

Happy Friday!

I tricked the batteries in my camera

2009-08-27T14:18:00.005-06:00

Although after taking nine pictures, a few with the flash, the batteries protested so no more pics til next month! Not bad considering I take a lot of indoor pics and I got those super (snicker) batteries about July 6th.

Anyhow, here's my floaty looking fleur-de-lis without the paint (man, I need a pretty comforter!):

Of course with a P&S (point and shoot) camera, the options to take what you see are limited but from straight on, they aren't near as floaty looking:

I had mentioned I put the bigger of the "garden bowls" above the wash stand and the picture doesn't do it justice but it's a nice change from a flat picture:

So, all in all since I moved in back at the end of May, I have spent $43.50 (not including tax) to complete the decor in my bedroom. Which isn't bad over three months. I don't count the blanket I bought as that's a necessity and frankly, a lonely blanket isn't for looks but for warmth and it needs to be covered up with a pretty comforter. I am actually embarrassed to show the pics without a comforter but whatchya gonna do?

I am one of those that has expensive tastes and finding the right comforter hasn't been easy based on my budget, what's available in that price point and I don't want to settle with something just because it is the "right price". So, for now it will be a plain blanket with the afghan that someone on my mom's side of the family made to add a bit of interest and color and I will just deal with that.

Also, I wish I hadn't hung that mirror so dang high but again, I want to minimize the amount of holes I need to fill when I move out so it's staying where it is.

Hehe, I kind of laugh at how I have put all this together considering I wasn't even going to bother but with a few pictures here and there; but I realized pretty early on that I would be living here longer than the initial three months. I don't know what it is about our home though, the need to decorate, to embellish, to individualize and even a temporary home needs to feel like home. You need to put your personal touches in a space and if you think about it, even prisoners do what they are allowed to make their tiny cells individualized.

Huh, uniquely a human trait for sure.

Hope everyone is having a fine day!

Well poo

2009-08-27T04:26:00.007-06:00

Good ideas sometimes don't work as planned.

I painted the middle (see previous post) one a solid black with Ceramcoat black and it just looks goofy.

I did that one first on purpose first because if I didn't like how it turned out, I can live with that. So, the other two will stay their faux wood for now and oddly enough the color is pretty close to the stain of the nightstand and the wash stand. I did a bit of touch up with the black and brown paint in the places where the faux wood had chipped off. Unless you know where and gave it a close inspection, you can't tell. So, I am kinda bummed because now I have a $2.49 piece of "eeewww".

Screwing in the mirror hanger was super simple so that pleases me. Since they are so lightweight, I will use very small nails to minimize the size of the holes that will need to be filled up when I vacate in the next 3-6 months.

No pictures of the failed paint project since my camera batteries are running very low as I use it a lot.

However, I can't end a post without a picture or two so I give you:

Cat Loaf:

On Alert:

Oh my, I am getting punchy. Having a nap in the early evening is bad idea no matter how tired one is!

Oh my Aug 27 already? Time flies even when under employed.

2009-08-27T00:07:00.010-06:00

A confession.

My confession: I am addicted to Hobby Lobby's steller and deep discounts even if the pickin's are slim at those prices. It doesn't help that the grocery chain I shop has a store in the same shopping center and the other (of the same chain) store near me doesn't stock my favorite flavor of Coke Zero - vanilla - thank you very much. I knew when I moved into this apartment it might be a problem. I don't shop the closest grocery (different chain) near me because their prices are much higher and the Target near there is a regular Target so their grocery selection is severely limited.

I can pass 3-4 liquor stores on my way to that grocery store yet I can't stand the idea of not making a run into Hobby Lobby - perhaps I have transferred my addictions!?! Since I set up shop in this apartment, I've been looking for something(s) to fill the corner of my bedroom above the nightstand. Something that isn't a flat and framed picture or set of pictures. Of course whatever I put there has to be inexpensive.

I had seen a couple of neat, certainly unique round wood carvings (hard to explain) that were painted robins egg blue that I thought would look cool painted black in that space but Goodwill wanted $7+ each for the two and also the weight was a concern because they were solid wood, about 2-2 1/2 feet in diameter, 3"-4" thick so hanging them could be an issue. I was bummed that I felt it was too much money and hanging them would have been an issue but I kept my eyes out.

Thanks to the bazillion home decor/DIY blogs and sites I read, I really have started to look at home furnishings, decor etc much differently. One of the key things to take with you to any store, thrift shop or yard/tag sale is look at how something is constructed. Can you use it in a different way?

Well, I had spied these in previous trips there:

But I just couldn't see any beauty in them at all. More dust collectors. Things that wouldn't have a home until I find a house to call my own. It just didn't make sense. However, I turned them around and upside down:

Aha, I thought to myself...they are flat on the back, they are screwed to the bases soooo I went looking for some kind of hook packet and found mirror hangers that should work, I hope (I am going to mount them on the back, not on the top, they didn't have much in the picture hanging hardware section - oddly enough).

When I got them home and their portraits of before were done I took them apart:

I have to admit, they aren't the prettiest things around and the one will need something to fill the screws in before they get a good coat of paint. But I thought for the price I paid for them I will figure out a way to make them work:

If you can't see the pricing two of them are $29.99 originally and I got those for $2.99 each. The other is $24.99 and I got it for $2.49. That's a total cost to me (before painting) of $8.47. I am probably going to sound very mean here but even at that price I am ashamed of what I spent on them...I would have preferred to pay about half that given the quality but I need projects (rather than alcohol) and I need to fill that blank wall...

What makes me sad is for those that actually paid full price for them. For three of those the full price would have been $84.97(!) and when I took them apart, you can see that (and feel too) that they are some kind of hard foam with a finish that isn't very durable. Granted I bought them after they've been shipped, moved around the store, handled a hundred times but $25 - $30 each for that material and labor is pretty excessive. Oh well, I got them and they will be put to use after I paint them.

I will keep the stands as I am sure I will be able to find something to use them for. I already have a few holiday ideas but finding the "right" things to mount on them is a different story.

I am going to have to paint them a flat black because that's what I have, both in spray and in craft acrylics. I probably should use the spray but since these aren't going to be used in a way that will be handled a lot, I will save the spray paint for something bigger and that needs to have a more durable finish.

I have a satin "espresso" color spray paint that probably would work better with the fake detailing to give it a bit of a sheen but with the mirror so close and I put the biggest of the "garden bowls" above the wash stand on the other side of the bed along with the flat black of the frame on the back wall, the brown just doesn't make a lot of sense.

Hmmm, I could also paint them terra cotta/burnt sienna, burnt orange, avocado green or golden straw (yellow) but for some reason that just doesn't jazz me for my bedroom...the burnt sienna might work but I don't think I have enough for all three.

At least I have a project to keep me busy because if I am not busy I could think of all the reasons I could just drink "this one time" and I know where that got me before. Painting is much easier on my wrist too so I haven't picked up my afghan in a while. I may have to figure out a way to get a couple of rows here and there done as I really would like to get that completed before it gets chilly.

I may make another post in a bit about some of the fun DIY blog things I have found recently. My sleep schedule is a bit buggered right now so I have a lot more late night-early morning idle time to kill. Silly me took a nap during "Wipeout" tonight so that didn't help matters any.

Thrifty Birthday

2009-08-24T12:57:00.008-06:00

My birthday last Wednesday was pretty mellow. I needed to go to the dollar store to pick up a few things (yay for cheap tissues, gallon size storage bags, scented candles and reed diffusers) and to Home Depot to return a couple of things as well...inbetween I ran over to Goodwill and despite the fact I said previously I was done shopping for home decor, hehe, Goodwill tripped me up and heck, it was my birthday...

A leaf tile set in wood that is pretty much a trivet so it replaced the windchimes over the sink next to the metal trivets I have. I painted the wood (it was stained 80s brown) a mid brown but think I might go ahead and attack it with black paint instead. It's pretty much early 80s I am sure. (30% off)

A copper leaf silhouette thing you put a votive behind. I like its odd 70s feel to it. Maybe it's a lot newer but meant for Thanksgiving? I don't know, it's going to be displayed year round. (30% off)

I was going to get two brass plate/picture easels or stands from the dollar store that were a tacky bright brass (to paint) but I wasn't sure if they would work for those plates...so I passed on them and lo and behold I found two adjustable and in serious need of a good spray paint but doable for the moment easels/stands for 49¢ at Goodwill. I saved me a buck fifty-one! They were a green tag so they were 50% off.

The silver candle holder got a good cleaning since the picture (not sure if it's real silver, looks like a Pier 1 candle holder I had once and is in fact Pier 1). (Only thing full price)

A soap stone (?) carving that is sitting on one of the plate easel things which also looks like it may have been from Pier 1...I have it on my night stand. (30% off)

A candle holder thing (30% off) which may get a good spray too.

I kind of like it as is - yeah, that mossy odd green to look like a cement garden ornament? I really wanted something for that hand made glass globe my parents got for me...the stand that went with it was sent to Goodwill. :-( Anyhow, I thought I would paint that either "espresso" in satin or the flat black...I'm still undecided if I want to paint it. It's been since last Wednesday and it's kind of grown on me.

So now I am fully into my 40s but still on the low end of 40s...but a few thrifted pieces made my day.

Check out other people's thrifty finds at Southern Hospitality blog!

Orange you happy? (A close-up of some cheap decor.)

2009-08-18T13:03:00.007-06:00

I don't know why but the color orange and its variations has captured me and it's not because I am a true Broncos fan either. In the last few months, I see orange and I am drawn to it. My previous decor colors were a combo of maroon/burgandy, forest green and a deep blue - very 90s. When I moved, I started to see oranges, rusts and even coppers (less metallic though) as my new main color mixed with browns, black, yellow, green and cream/off white/beige. It's very versatile, more so than I ever thought before.

These two shelves are off to the right of my computer so I see them day in and day out:

Those shelves have seen many transformations since I moved in at the end of May. I think I have them close to where I want them. I plan on spray painting that blue basket either dark brown or black and the pine cones (in that metal garden thing from Hobby Lobby) may get a coat (or two) of cream color.

I put those orange bamboo placemats (from the dollar store) there because they needed a place to hang out and they just stayed there. It's unexpected, that's for sure. The trivet was a 50% off item from Hobby Lobby (along with two others that are hanging above my sink - see previous post).

I also used a bamboo place mat in a zen-like way (I guess, though not on purpose) on my coffee table:

Not a very good picture but I like the use of such an inexpensive grouping for my coffee table. The placemat was $1, the basket was $2, rocks were $1.40 and the plant $3. Not bad for $7.40 (not including tax). BTW, if anyone can identify that plant for me, I would appreciate it. The two books I have on houseplants are in storage.

So here's the coffee table decorated for about $11.50:

It's an odd assortment but somehow I like it. Of course cameras rarely can take a photo of how things really look but in real life, it does look fabulous to me because it's simple. I'd prefer to have something different than the tray but it needed a place to to be useful other than tucked away next to my knitting needles.

The stand I have that's between the entry and the kitchen was custom built for me to use as a TV stand back in the early 90s. I have a thing for mostly naked wood so this is why you see much of my living room having unfinished oak and I wont finish or paint them...anyhow, orange is there too:

The plate is the same as the one on my shelves. I originally bought them to hang on the wall but the two plate hangers I have didn't work since they are for round plates and plate shelves are out of the question for right now. Anyhow, I couldn't resist that pitcher. I got the plates and the pitcher from Ross - oh the things you can find in their home section! I walked around the store deciding if I really wanted to spend $ on it. Single items over $6 I really stress over. I must have mulled that for a good half hour before I gave in. I had also seen this:

The idea was to buy one or the other and that's what I did. Really. I gave it about five days on the one in my kitchen and decided if it was still there, I would go ahead and pick it up. Even then I walked around thinking about it before I decided to do it. Both pieces were under $10 each but I still feel somewhat guilty for buying them. However, I like them. I had seen fall specific pitchers in Hobby Lobby, new for $30 each so I guess for $16 I got a good deal on the two?

So orange has become a passion color for me and the home decor purchases have come to a halt for the time being. Spread over time they don't seem like much cost per each and they really aren't because so much of what I have purchased has been seriously discounted.

I've had fun with redoing my decor since I moved so soon after Parker Valley. I've used the major items (furniture, mirrors, etc.) as a canvas to make changes to go with the changes I have made otherwise in my life and it feels good. I actually enjoy keeping my house clean now. Why? Because I was buzzed too much of the time to care and while my new stuff is inexpensive, I feel good taking care of it all which in turn helps keep my mind feeling taken care of too.

In figuring out what I have spent on new home decor since I moved, it's less than half of what I would have consumed in cheap wine over that same period of time. This doesn't include the yarn for the afghan I am making and a much needed blanket for my bed.

EDIT 8:31pm:

One thing I have thought about with a lot of the new items (and old too) is that they serve a purpose, or can serve a purpose other than sitting there looking pretty.

For example, those trivets are an obvious duo-function. The pitchers can be used (well they are supposed to be food safe) for serving tea or ice water. The plates can be used as small party platters for veggies or a cheese plate with a dip cup or toothpick cup centered in between.

The metal thing on the first shelf was meant for the garden (was something like $25 full price at HL, got it for $5) but when I have a bigger kitchen again, it's main purpose I got it for is to put fruit in. I got bananas today and they'd fit perfectly in there.

Heck, I am using the colander I have but rarely use (I prefer those big strainers for pasta and such) to put doggie poo bags (pre use of course) in for Jake's walks.

Below the second shelf in the first pic I have a big black bowl that I initially purchased to make an indoor fountain with but use it for serving (like a big salad or whatever) when I go to a potluck but right now it's holding some basic office supplies.

So, rather than just buying things to look good, I try to find things that do more than one service...

Hobby Lobby lamp bases - update

2009-08-17T13:52:00.020-06:00

I was really not liking the lamp I painted for my bedroom as the footprint was taking up too much room on the stand next to my bed. It was also just a bit too tall. I had gone to Home Depot prior to getting those lamp bases and picked up glue and sandpaper for the lamp I found near the dumpsters but I was a bit turned off by the electrical in it. It has a polarized plug but the cord is gold so its age concerned me and when I took it apart, the clamp part for the cord to the socket broke so it is just another base now.

I decided to go ahead and return the glue and sandpaper block and pick up a complete socket kit and work on the dumpster lamp later. It was only $2 more than the glue and sandpaper so I didn't feel guilty about the kit. I had seen the kits online about $4 cheaper but I wanted the ability to return it, with little hassle, in the case it didn't work for my needs.

I gotta tell ya, out of the do-it-yourself things, "making" a lamp is so very easy and it didn't short out or explode when I put it together:

It's a bit top heavy because I used the lamp shade from the lamp that was there before. I would have used the shade from the near the dumpster find but it is even bigger. It would have been perfect because of the color, the pleated fabric and that it's more elegant (or something) - great for a bedroom.

The shade size I have on the living room lamps is perfect but #1 I don't want a light colored shade in my bedroom and #2 one of the lamps would be sans shade. I will just have to wait until I can afford to find the right shade for it. Here's a sample of the shades along with the baskets I painted and added to the living room to complete the balance out a bit behind the futon:

Not bad for $1.50 and some acrylic paints I already had on hand. I didn't paint the insides because painting baskets with a brush is a pain in the butt. It's not magazine worthy but it works for temporary housing. I'm still looking for the right board to mount those fleur-de-lis things on...right means 12" x 36" and also = free. HAHA!

Here is the temporary solution for the other lamp base:

As I stated in the previous post, I had intended to use the bases for candles in the meantime and that's all fine and dandy but when I took out the the candlestick light fixture innerds and outerds (hehe) of that lamp, I was left with the nipple sticking out. I sacrificed one of the dollar store candles I had:

Yes, "nipple" is the technical term...anyhow, that nipple is an integral part of the base so I can't remove it. I also thought about using this:

To look like this:

But with that nipple there, I can't figure out a way to do it in a way that looks good and is secure. In that picture it's balanced carefully with bubble wrap and the luck of my fingers being crossed.

My parents got that for me in 1994 or 1995 when we were in Puerto Vallerta (we went both years) and in my mad packing and purging frenzy to move, I got rid of the base/stand that went with it. I am still remembering some of the things I got rid of and I am not a happy camper over some of the stuff I took to Goodwill.

Anyhow, that would be kind of neat if I can figure out how to get it to stay and look okay - cutting off that nipple would be ideal but it's just not going to happen.

And one last picture for this post:

Saturday I got a bug up my "you-know-what" and since I am staying here longer than I thought, I did a serious cleaning of the kitchen cabinets.

They were gross and I have only done the basic sponge with all-purpose cleaner w/bleach with my normal cleaning but just ick. These apartments were built in the mid 80s so you can imagine the gunk that was on them. I don't have to tell anyone that's lived in apartments before the grossness of some previous tenants. I swear, someone had a jelly fight in here at some point. I scrubbed the heck out of those cabinets and now I can open them without feeling the grime and seeing those gooey blobs of nasty anymore.

I wish I had taken a pic of the before up close so you can see how much of a difference it made. Even corporate managed apartments don't get the "construction clean" between and I wish I had done it sooner. At least that's done although my right arm is protesting the hard work I put into doing some deep cleaning of things this weekend.

I took down the AeroGarden because only one set of the flowers (from the original kit) grew and the one that did grow was too gangly. Also, with the move, I got rid of the box that it came in which incidentally had the nutrient tabs. I will get another seed kit and will go with more (but different) flowers instead of herbs. I like the idea of having flowers growing inside.

A few more Hobby Lobby deals added as well...I've got to stop this buying of stuff. I know I am getting things at seriously reduced prices but it's starting to add up and while I am not spending my money on drinking, I have to get a job before I spend anymore - plus I am bored so I think of things to add to the apartment...

So, happy Monday to all and hope this past weekend was a good one for all.

Shady Deals. I mean shadeless deals.

2009-08-13T17:40:00.006-06:00

Ran to Hobby for two things...get another application for employment and to see if they had any spray paint that would work for that lamp I posted yesterday. I had gone to Home Depot first and was disappointed by their spray paint selection.

I walk into HL and of course ran over to the seriously, seriously discounted section and look at what I found:

The 13" one was:

The 10" was:

But....

Okay, so as they are right now, they won't work but seriously, $1 each? I can't pass that up. For the time being, I am going to take out the electrical parts and use them to put candles on. Once I find a reliable source for new sockets (don't want a candle-like specialty non-fluorescent light) that should only run me around $5 each (if that). Hopefully I can find free, cheap or seriously discounted lamp shades that will go with the bases.

If for some reason that lamp I found yesterday doesn't look okay after attempting to fix it, then it's parts will go into the 13" one instead.

As for paint at Hobby Lobby, they were a bust too. I guess that if I am able to properly fix the base on yesterday's lamp, it will just be painted a flat black as I already have a can. I was hoping for a more metallic look and was not inclined to drive all the way to Lowes to see what they have.

So, I saved in not buying paint but gained by getting cheap lamp bases that are completely workable.

EDIT: To see what other bargain/thrift hunters have found recently, go check out Southern Hospitality Blog...tons of links there.

Oh and if you popped on here via her blog, check out what I ended up doing with them by going to the default page of my blog - click on the banner...

Transformation Thursday

2009-08-13T11:32:00.006-06:00

Okay, I have nothing to post on my own but as the day progresses, check out:

Click to launch her site!

People post links to their projects (usually a before and after) so you can get some fabulous ideas to take that old, dated, thrifted, curb-shopping item and give it new life. I have found so many fun ideas from her site, links from her site and others who do similar posts that link out.

BTW, soon I will post some of my favorite home decor links to not only share but in the case of computer ills, I have them as a back up.

Oh and a "just because" pic I found in June, (I think on Sweet Home Style) because I love the windows and I just felt like posting the pic.

I have about 250 pictures I have saved to my inspire folder...I think that's a bit much but oh well. I like house stuff so when I see something I like, I save it.

I am going to go get some Gorilla Glue all purpose and some sandpaper to fix that lamp. Hope the car doesn't protest too much.

Happy Thursday!

EDIT: Oh and there's:

No I am not a participant but man, the links people post are fun, fun, fun!

(Still working through my daily blog cruise.)

Walking the dog pays off again

2009-08-12T15:01:00.007-06:00

It's an odd time of month to move but as I was walking back from taking my dog for his afternoon poo/walk I spied these lovely items next to one of the dumpster fences and a nice woman helped me carry one of them (nice people here).

Only three are workable, one of the chairs had a broken front rail - it was gone - so the head of maintenance chucked it in the trash can for me:

Besides, I don't like to decorate in fours so I am good with that and I am a bit odd anyway:

Then this poor lamp that actually is savagable with a bit of epoxy and some paint...the shade is in near perfect condition, a good dusting with a can of air and such:

All are sitting out on the patio for right now as the scare of bed bugs seems to be popping up in places you never would think they would be. I don't know how long to leave them out there, not sure what to do to them just in case there are hidden creepy things and I hope there's no rain anytime soon.

The sad reality of having been in rehab

2009-08-09T10:39:00.006-06:00

(Somewhat disjointed post.)

The sad reality is, those that you are in treatment with often don't make it. The possibilities are endless and rehab is not a cure-all. It's a place to give you tools; much like a stone mason to build a foundation so that you can live a life without drugs or alcohol. However, you have to use those tools or your wall will crumble but hopefully your foundation will help you back if you do relapse.

I learned last night that one of my fellow patients had committed suicide last weekend. One of the guys who "cupped out" (graduated) with me called me to let me know and later I spoke with the women's dear friend from rehab about it. The memorial services are this week and as far as I can tell, all that were in treatment with me during that time will be there but for a few that didn't live in the area.

Alcohol and drugs, in my opinion, is (are) a symptom of things going very wrong in a person's life and that is one thing I don't think that is touched upon enough, at least for me. I have a different view than most about the disease model because for me it started years before my first drink with a lot of emotions that a child simply shouldn't have to shoulder. I can touch on that at some other point I guess here or in my journal.

Mandy (Amanda) was a very emotional young woman. I say young because she was younger than me by about 10 years. You throw in a lot of addicts together who want to live a life without their substance(s) and you have quick emotional attachments. These are your fellow humans at their most vulnerable because we don't have the substance(s) to deal with these emotions and baggage anymore so you're a bit raw. Amanda was pretty raw. We all were but some were more visibly raw than others.

Anyhow, the reality of rehab is the attachments you find yourself in. You may not maintain a friendship outside of rehab but you do find yourself thinking about those who were in the program with you a lot. Then you learn that someone didn't make it and it sends you in a state of shock. Well, that's kind of where I am and since it was only around 7:40 last night I learned about her taking her life, the reality of it hasn't hit yet.

It is in times like this where you question your own ability to stay the course. You question if rehab was worth it because if he or she can't make it work, how can I?

I think the true test for me will be after her services this Wednesday. I have no desire to drink because it doesn't solve anything. It's a temporary state. But how I deal with the feelings after her memorial is a different story.

I cried at the "black ribbon" ceremonies we had while I was at Parker Valley Hope. I didn't know those people who lost their lives because of their addictions but you feel a bit of kinship. Parker Valley had seen a strange increase in deaths (all post treatment) related to addiction while I was there. They aren't sure exactly why because they say their success rate is pretty high.

So, instead of heading off any potential emotions flooding to the surface by going to get a box of cheap wine, I dusted the apartment, cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen. I was itching to vacuum but by the time I was done with that, it was too late so I will do that today.

I also read and listened to my journal entries from my posts during and after treatment to get a sense of where I was and where I am now.

My friend (the guy who called me) may come over for dinner tonight. We're not sure yet. I have too much to lose to go back to my old ways so once I finish cleaning, I need to find something to paint or knit (since knitting is not as harsh on my wrist).

Mandy, I pray you have found some peace, the peace you desperately needed. I will be there to celebrate you and to find comfort with our friends from PVH. You will be missed by all.

Photo from stock.xchng, downloaded 08-01-05.

Underemployed and bored so pictures of the same

2009-08-07T15:45:00.007-06:00

So I took pictures of my apartment - again! I did a bit of decluttering, removing and shifting things the other day which started because the shelves I use next to my computer. It's a magnet for old papers that needed to be filed, craft supplies that didn't make it the three feet to their own shelves and such...

I need a stain pen to hide past movers stupidity who dinged up my dresser:

Found the oval painting my mom had purchased or had made or something (it looks like me as a child) so the double shelves got a bit of change...not getting rid of my Broncos stuff, no way:

I am going to mount those seriously cheaply priced fleur-de-lis things I got at Hobby Lobby on a painted board so they don't float - garden, schmarden, they are in the house like other 66%-80% off garden things I got there. I really need something on the left side of my futon, that wall is just blah:

The other tab top curtain panel crudely tacked up on the patio door. I like to keep the patio door open at night to let in air but want a bit more privacy too and with those vertical blinds, it's not an easy task. Like I said in a prior post, some things are just going to remain crudely done since this is a temporary living situation:

I am consuming coffee this afternoon even though it's warm at 79° in the apartment. I could easily take a nap but doing what I can to avoid that situation!

Hope everyone had a productive and good week and I am raising my cup to a good weekend ahead!

PS Must find a job, I am repeating myself not only on the internet but in my head!

Fleur-de-lis thing - what is this for?

2009-08-04T19:26:00.007-06:00

I don't know the purpose of this but I picked it up at Hobby Lobby while getting a couple of things to do some creating:

It was this price at one time:

But it was marked down to this price:

It was the only one like it and the others were not inspiring me (they weren't fleur-de-lis, more like weird artichokes on a stand) but from $25 to $1.50? Yeah, it serves no purpose and it's kind of a lonesome item but it goes with my bed (my bed has fleur-de-lis shapes on it as well does the big picture in my bedroom - both of which were bought in the 90s). It's just a dust collector but I will find a space for it knowing I paid hardly anything for it. I'm digging that!

"Things" I learned in rehab

2009-08-02T14:32:00.018-06:00

No, this is not a post about being sober, staying sober or anything like that. It's about products I found while in rehab!

However, I went to Parker Valley Hope in April because my drinking got way out of hand. I met a lot of wonderful people there who are no different than your friends or neighbors - seriously, think about it. I don't worry about telling the world I was a drunk that needed a 30 day kick-in-the-ass and while I am not active in AA or other treatment at the moment, I am doing quite well but the internal work is always there.

So, PVH (which is how I normally refer to Parker Valley Hope) is not a treatment center where you remain in a virtual jail like many facilities. Remaining in touch with society is important for some people (like me even if I am a loner) so we were allowed to (with other patients or family) go off "campus" for meetings, getting items at stores that we needed, have dinner or lunch, etc. There are restrictions due to health (those still in for observation ie: The Shake Shack), court orders and such along with time restrictions among a few others. However, when time allowed between classes, group and appointments with staff, we could leave.

A group of addicts be it alcohol, drugs or both tend to make a bee line to places like Wal*Mart, Target and Hobby Lobby. It was really funny to show up at Wal*Mart only to run into a bunch of your fellow addicts you had no idea left campus. It was quite fun to be let loose for a while and not feel like a naughty child.

So here are four products I found while in rehab that I can't be without:

1. Jergens Ultra Healing lotion. I live in Colorado Springs and our area is a semi-arid climate - dry enough to almost be a desert aka high desert plains. I've used all kinds of lotions over the years from the inexpensive (Suave's Advanced Therapy) to the more expensive (Curél's Ultra Healing Intensive) to the even more expensive (Eucerin). Jergens Ultra Healing is by far the best of the bunch with a decent price tag. At Walgreens (often found cheaper elsewhere) it's $6.99 for a 21 oz bottle. Prior to my forced vacation, er rehab, I had sworn on Vaseline's Intensive Rescue and while it's between Jergens and Suave in price, it just lost out. The Jergen's is not greasy (like Eucerin can be) and it really stays through between showers and heals the hands like no other.

My only complaint about it is it has the original Jergens scent and while it's light enough, I wish they offered this lotion in an unscented variety.

2. Hane's Fully Padded Wireless Bra. My family (and I) kind of messed up in packing and allowing me to pack for my trip to PVH and since my house had seen much, much better days nobody was allowed in (perhaps more on that later). I only had one ratty bra that had seen many years of use. In one of my first trips to Wal*Mart I picked one up. I am not well endowed in my chest so I can get away with no wires (thank the gods) and I prefer fully padded because I am not one to show the world the temperature. (snicker) The style I have I can't find but the link is close enough. I got it for $9.50 when I usually spend $30+ and I seriously can't be any happier with a bra. It holds its shape - but if you order online, apparently some people end up with mashed cups that never recover from being smashed like that - really does fit perfectly (I didn't try mine on, don't do Wal*Mart dressing rooms). Overall, this is a very good bra and the price is awesome. No more $30 bras that really don't fit all that well and you're only paying for the prestige.(?) Besides, I don't go gaga over lingerie. I go for comfort first.

This from a woman that would die without her Dankso Ingrids and yes, I do buy Hane's bikini cotton underwear. A comfortable tshirt, my Levi's, my Danskos, cotton underwear, cotton socks, Hane's bra and I am ready to tackle the world.

3. Dove Cool Moisture Beauty Bar. I've used Dove for a long time. I needed to pick up a two pack, one for me and a fellow PVH patient who couldn't leave campus and I chose this with the cucumber and green tea. It's a very strong scent which goes against my lotion thought but soap doesn't leave as strong of a scent as lotion. Anyhow, I didn't have my almost brand new bar of basis facial soap (I prefer bars of soap - they last longer, less packaging and I love basis products) and rather than buying another one, I had recalled that Dove used to advertise that their beauty bar was just that, for both face and body. I used that for almost the entire 30 days I was in PVH and my face didn't break out, feel off or otherwise have problems. I still prefer basis for my face but I dig this particular Dove product. This is one of those where I would have a fit if they discontinued the product.

4. Hershey's Nuggets: Special Dark with Almonds - "Mildly Sweet". Some people might question why I might be digging this chocolate given that most people wouldn't turn down chocolate even if it cost the price of a diamond. Well, I am not much of a sweet eater at all. I like chocolate but milk chocolate grosses me out and I don't like foods with a lot of sugar in them. I love caramel (it's the milky texture) and toffee (oh my, Ben and Jerry's coffee and Heath - drool) but overall I don't keep many sweets in the house.

During my stay at PVH, after a run to Wal*Mart or Target people would bring back a ton of candy. I am talking, in some instances, enough candy to fit into one of those hand baskets for smaller loads at a store. I tried a few bits of candy I hadn't had in a while and a few new items I'd never had and fell in love with these Hershey's Nuggets. They are not too sweet but not too dark chocolatey (is that a word?). Also, any kind of nut in with a darker chocolate, I can get behind. I keep a bag of these in my fridge and it takes about three weeks to go through.

So, that's my possibly weird writing about rehab. I don't want to get philosophical or whatever about rehab because it's different for everyone who enters. Recovery, staying sober, etc does not have a cookie cutter solution or set of solutions. People are as varied (IMO) as the life they lead in how they get, stay and remain in a sober state so I will reserve that for my journal where it's about feelings I have rather than preaching about what works for me, what should work for another and such.

I will always remember my experience there and while I have some thoughts about it and such that may not be all that positive, it was a good 30 days to find me again. I still have a ton of internal work but so far, so good. But I gotta tell ya, I don't think I have ever loved Wal*Mart as much as I did during my stay at PVH. I still dig it and I am not going to be a "hater" because of many reasons including that it seems to be the thing to be a Wal*Mart hater.

In a bit of a mental slump

2009-07-30T16:07:00.003-06:00

So instead of boring people with whining, I bring you a small bright spot to an otherwise cold (56°) and cloudy day...a baby robin that is just as chubby as can be:

One of its parents came down and got it to eat a worm and eventually I came back inside because it's so chilly out there. I even have my slippers on!

Inspiration Photo

2009-07-27T20:21:00.002-06:00

I found this lovely:

from casasugar.com.

I don't recall how I found casasugar nor have I really poked around their site to see what they are all about but it's a site I have kept on my must-see list for quite some time. I've just never clicked through their other links at the top.

Anyhow, I love how simple, handcrafted and unique that is. It's really not my personal style (the overall decor they show) but when I get to a new house again to decorate, that's a great idea if I decide to put the stiles and rails up for the canopy on the bed again. I don't know if stile and rail are the correct terminology for parts of a canopy bed, my window and doors sales rep in me popped out.

Boy, people sure have some great ideas for decorating and use items in ways that inspire me. I like it!

Craig's List and a dumpster find

2009-07-27T15:36:00.003-06:00

I have to start this one off with this Craig's List listing:

I've seen it listed a couple of times before and never got a screenshot of it until today. I don't know about you but I am thinking that it belongs in a junior high school health class.

Yes, I am that juvenile but I think we all are but few admit it.

I found this plant stand by the dumpster on Saturday:

When people move around here, you find a lot of completely usable and/or fixable items and this was the first item I actually snagged. It stands up well and placed by my front door while I finished walking the dog.

When I got back, I realized that part of the left 1x1 leg had been broken but I didn't let that make me feel like I should take it back to the dumpster area. I leaned it up against the patio wall and it will serve well for a cup of coffee or cold tea and if it weren't so late in the season, I would put some outdoor plants on it. I plan on fixing the leg and painting it but we'll see if that actually happens. It was free and serves a needed purpose.

Other than that I haven't been up to much. It was a rainy day yesterday afternoon which was perfect to just curl up on the couch with a cup of coffee, my cat and watch some PBS.

Oh Craig's List

2009-07-24T14:36:00.007-06:00

You want how much? It's so gorgeous you gotta wear shades. Er, yeah...

I could not help but do a real LOL when I saw this listing. I like to see what people are selling at more than $50 and a picture/piece of art is very hard to list above $50 unless it's truly outstanding and in demand.

But seriously...if you have to put in your ad (unless it's a free item) something like: "Let me know if you need a better picture." what's the purpose of the first picture anyway? Take a day, put it where you can photograph it without the flash and post it so people can actually see if the item you are listing is even worth the effort. In the world of Craig's List, people will move on by pretty quickly.

I guess the years in sales and web design I get super picky about how people list their stuff for sale. It's just bad form, IMNSHO, to keep your potential buyers guessing even in classified ads.

Granted many don't have my awesome (tehe) skills to put together a Photoshop gallery for stuff I was getting rid of and some for sale when I was moving...but at least you can identify the object by just the picture.

Oh my.

Sadly, most of that stuff ended up at Goodwill as I was down to the wire with clearing out the house. But a box, tissue paper, some poster board, two lamps using CFLs with daylight or bluer tones is all you really need to get decent shots.

BTW, I learned how to make my own light box with this tutorial. I modified mine a bit but it worked great.

PS Photoshop's gallery is not as good as doing my own gallery but I was in the process of a move and it is super simple to set up. If you have Photoshop CS2 or above (not sure about CS) and you aren't much of a web designer or crunched for time, it's a great solution for your own gallery.

Toodles! Happy Friday!

Hubba! Hubba! Parquet flooring!

2009-07-23T16:49:00.005-06:00

See, that's what I am talking about!

(Both pics below belong to Apartment Therapy, click above for article and slideshow.)

I must admit that the title "Alex's Granny Chic" is kind of off-putting because as a child of the 70s, my grandparents (on both sides) were far from that hip and cool but my parents were - haha (grandparent age now though my mom died when I was 15). Since I am far from being young and hip myself, I guess I will accept that and lust after that flooring!

I LOVE it. I think parquet floors get a bad rap and are a style that never really goes out of style. That or I am just wishing I was in my toddler years again?

Eh, no matter. I like them and they look fabulous.

Getting out the "artist" in me

2009-07-23T13:04:00.005-06:00

I've always been a crafty/artsy type of person and for 12 years I transferred that side from hands-on to the computer with my web design. I am also sad to say that the "drunk" I was also took over so you combine computer graphics and photo manipulation so everything looks "just so" (straight lines, not a flaw to be found) with my ADD, and having a buzz for about 75% of the time, my inner artist really suffered.

With my newly found sobriety, living in a new space and idle time I've decided that the inner artist needs to stretch her legs again. I also have to remember that with hand-on materials like paint, brush and whatever other things you use nothing is nearly as flawless as computer generated web graphics. I find that in today's mass produced society, we have tended (myself included) to see handmade items that do have "flaws" as ugly.

Now, with that said, I can say that I do look at Etsy every so often for inspiration and I am either highly impressed with the skills of a certain seller or I am horrified that that person would even consider trying to sell something "like that". It's always in the eye of the beholder I guess, to each their own. However, when it comes to your space, your place, handmade with the flaws and all has a different meaning.

I haven't painted anything that wasn't one color and simple brush strokes in many years so I have been hesitant to just do it. What if it looks bad? What if the lines aren't perfect? What if someone else thinks it's ugly?

Oh stop that! It's my house, it's my space and *you* don't have to like it. So there. ;-)

I have a vision that started with the cheap baskets I put in my bathroom you may remember:

It's kinda blah but I can't afford much and since I decorate in ones, twos, threes or fives (four is bad luck you know?) I thought I could come up with something that would not cost much - ie: things I have on hand. Turning to the fountain in my bedroom:

(sorry for the large pic, I don't like big pics and even with my mad skills in Photoshop, it loses its detail.)

To create my first thoughts on notebook paper (must get graph paper and sketch paper), first with pencil, second with the beloved favorite a Sharpie:

With some quick Paint Shop Pro (I use both Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro) just to see the colors - please note, my web designs NEVER look like this:

To another quick photo manipulation just to see my vision:

I gathered my paints, poster board (cheap, cheap, cheap!) and brushes to come up with this:

It's not perfect, it lacks detail and is very simple, paints are not cohesive (two different types of basic craft acrylics), poster board is not a good vehicle for what I want to do so it's just a prototype but I like it! Flaws and all.

Instead of a mirrored effect, I would like to do the second one using something else that's simple in design. Not sure I am digging the diamond around the dragonfly as it's a bit 80s and not very organic. But I do like the simplicity and the fact I felt brave enough to show the world.

I am going to do a few more things like that on the cheap poster board with cheap acrylics and such so the inner artist I lost along the way is massaged and feeling strong enough to tackle other things. I have no visions of turning my artist into anything worthy of selling on Etsy or elsewhere but I am having fun with it and that's what counts.

BTW, I don't see that that attempt will make it to the bathroom but I may get brave enough to get a couple of small premounted canvases, some real paints and invest in better brushes to actually do it.

Ah, the release of the stifled artist inside feels good. I recommend it to anyone even if they think they can't draw, paint or whatever. It's very satisfying!

Labs sure shed a lot!

2009-07-21T13:49:00.007-06:00

This is a (duh) close up of my dog Jake:

No worries, he's not mad but he is wondering why I am sticking my camera in his face.

Anyhow, you'd think a short hair breed would not shed much but holy heck this guy sheds like mad. I am pretty sure he is not full lab, I adopted him (very long story) when he was 1 year and 3 months and I am his third parent - owner. My dog prior to that was a chow/shepard/lab mix so I expected that with Kodi but never thought a lab that is pretty much lab (he's a bit smaller, his nose is a bit pointier and he doesn't have the typical barrel chest) would shed so darn much.

Now it's my hair (thin and long) that usually stops a vacuum cleaner because it wraps around the roller brush but his fur fills the cup in no time. Thankfully my friend gave me his old bagless Bissell and only after two uses, it was fuller than it should be. Uh, whoops. I didn't realize it was above the fill line until after I had already finished vacuuming today.

You combine his fur with Sonny's and my *shedding* too and good gracious it makes me fear the carpeting.

My preferred flooring in most of a home is limited carpeting. Since I worked in a tile company briefly I learned quite a bit about proper flooring. If you've ever pulled up 20 year old carpeting or even newer (yeah, it should be replaced much, much sooner) where the home is located in a dry and dusty place, carpeting is simply disgusting.

Carpet has its advantages such as: sound proofing between stories, stays warm in the cold months, non-slip and easily carries color from one room to another and especially good when using a neutral color in that manner.

The problem with carpeting is: stains easily, dirt magnet (especially in the dry climate I live in), requires regular deep cleaning, attracts bad smells, expensive to replace, often people buy in colors that only work for three years with their home decor...

Tile is great but I would never put tile in a kitchen, ever. I love, love the look and having sold it in the past, it has a lot of benefits but if you enjoy cooking tile is very hard on the back (and feet too). Tile also is not as forgiving as hardwood, laminate or vinyl when you drop something breakable.

If it were my decision: hardwood or laminate through the majority of a home using throw rugs for warmth and the look of hardwood never goes out of style. Tile in a bath since it cleans up nicely and perhaps wall-to-wall carpeting in a guest bedroom that doesn't get much use. If you must use tile in a kitchen, get some nice rubber chef mats to cushion your back and feet. Vinyl and other such flooring is great for laundry rooms, mudrooms.

While sweeping is kind of a pain in the butt, I would prefer to not have carpeting. Hardwood or laminate can be very easy to care for and if you know the rules of flooring, you'll have the tools to fix areas that may become damaged.

Tip: When buying flooring, buy at least 10% extra. If a tile breaks, you have matching tile. If you've left on vacation to come back and hardwood or laminate flooring has been soaking in water for whatever reason, you have matching planks. Vinyl is hard to destroy but I have seen it done so that can be patched as well. And your carpeting is the same deal.

Oh and as a side note. I remember we had this cool parquet flooring when I was a just a baby through the beginning of my toddler years (I remember weird stuff) that my parents replaced with orange shag carpeting. I would love to have a room or two in parquet flooring similar to what we had:

Perhaps a different design or bigger squares but I like it.

Wellgate wrist brace - a review

2009-07-20T17:26:00.005-06:00

Picture links to Walgreens but mine were ordered from Amazon:

I really like these but rarely wear them if I am on the computer. Anyone who has had wrist issues knows that typing with a wrist brace on is not easy but during down times and while driving, I am able to wear it with no problems.

They look great (compared to many others) and since they are designed for women, they do support better than a standard unisex type. My only problem with them is the velcro loses its velcro-sticky after time. The way it is designed, they don't use the standard velcro fabric on the back of the brace where it "hooks". It's a nice soft fabric but after about 9 months of the first one being constantly taken off and put on again it doesn't hook well.

The second one, I learned to not hook the brace to where I use it when it's on (while not wearing it, if that makes sense) and that has helped a lot.

Anyhow, I think it's a good brace, good support and isn't ugly. I have heard that some women who have bigger wrists will find them too small though, so try them on before you buy.

Oh and during other times, I use a craft glove to support my wrist like when I am on the computer. They help but not nearly as well as a full brace.

Underemployed and bored

2009-07-20T16:33:00.003-06:00

I haven't posted for a couple or so days in part because of problems with my wrist and now both hands. It's the oddest thing to wake up in the middle of the night to your hand (either or both) just tingly and in pain. I've had problems with my right arm since I was in high school (swimming can do that to you) so that's not a surprise but now my left hand is acting up. In addition, I have a sinus infection that comes and goes so that interrupts my sleep too.

So, this limits my ability to do much of anything productive. I could be working on my afghan and at 21" I wish it were magically completed:

I probably wouldn't want to work on it even if my hand/wrist were feeling okay as the indoor temp is 81° and I loathe to pay money to drop the temp down to the recommended 78° for maximum uh, savings? Having grown up in Colorado, air conditioning (except in a car) is a bit odd to me.

Feeling a bit whiney and it doesn't become me. I guess I could get out some paints and some poster board to see what I can come up with. I have an odd idea that I am not sure will work but you never know until you try it.

Hope everyone had a fine weekend and a decent Monday as far as Mondays go.

Bathroom update

2009-07-17T11:23:00.004-06:00

Now that I have my bathroom completed for the rest of my stay in this apartment (looks like I will be here through at least November) I can take some pictures and what a better excuse to clean the bathroom but when you are going to be showing it to the world? I highly recommend it..haha, anyhow, having taken advantage of 50% - 80% off sales for the last few weeks at Hobby Lobby along with my dollar store visits I give you the following:

Three little baskets:

Garden "bowls" that were 20% of (not off) their original price! Used them as wall decor. I'm not sure of their original purpose but they were wirey, springy and cheap...

Like the windchimes I put in the kitchen, I used the same concept in the bath although the execution is a bit off, it's doable for now:

Here's looking from the bath to the small hall - the bath garden "bowl" is 10" diameter and the one in the hall is 14". They were a soft gray but that's just not enough impact. $10 + spray paint I already had (would have been $50 and some change) = cheap decor:

Close up:

Since I am a smoker (I know, horrible, isn't it?) that's a little over two packs less I will be able to smoke and I am a-okay with that.

Okay, off to shower and go pick up some applications for employment while the temps are still low and the car doesn't give me fits.

Blogging about blogging

2009-07-17T07:41:00.005-06:00

I've been on this thing called the internet since Feb of 1995. 1995 I say? Yeah. Back when AOL was a paid by the minute (IIRC) service and I even broke a pinky toe once because I need to use the potty! That involved fun chatroom shenanigans, Molson Ice and the fact the bathroom was on the other side of the house.

My internet travels have been pretty extensive and have seen so much on the internet nothing surprises me anymore.

So along comes services like Live Journal, long before "blog" was a mainstream word. I've had some kind of Live Journal since 2000 but didn't start actively using it until after 9-11. Now, Live Journal (and a couple of other similar sites) were pretty ground breaking because of the types of things people would post for the world (or chosen friends) to see. For me, my Live Journal is just like a diary that I share with chosen people and it's a place where I do feel safe and have friends who I feel loyal to though I've only met a handful in person.

Since those early days, journaling and blogging have become a way for people to bring in income. Some are very successful at it too. But what is a blog but words, should it be focused to keep people coming back? This is something I am struggling with since I started this particular blog. I started it as an addition to my Live Journal so I could keep the angst sheltered among trusted company but to document the changes I am currently going through in all facets of my life in a more public arena. But, I am in a very unique group of people so many of my thoughts and words don't appeal to many.

For example, I am not a mom. Many of the blogs I read every morning are moms so I skip on through anything related to children and decorating kids' rooms. I have nothing against kids and in fact I love kids but I know I would be a horrible mom. This was a decision (to not have kids) that I concluded when I was around 16 years old.

I'm not a wife. I was going to be one at a very young age (at 18) and for some reason since that time, I just have never felt a connection but one other man in those many years. He didn't feel the same way.

I'm going to be 41 next month (oh, that hurts to write, 41?) so I don't have the wonders of my younger adulthood to write about. Had I had a blog back then, oh the interesting things I could have posted. I'm not saying my life is over, it's just different, tame might be a good word.

I'm severely under employed as a self-employed person and when I do find a part-time job, it's not going to be anything (I am sure) that a wide audience would enjoy unless unless I am able to get a job dealing with home improvement, construction or the like because I love that stuff.

So what is this blog about? I don't know. I don't know about you but I don't know any other 40somethings, never married, no kids and seriously under-employed. I mean, how can that be remotely interesting?

I lost a lot of self during the years I spent drinking my troubles and boredom away. I'd always been the type of person that could be alone (since I was a little kid) but the isolation through drinking really stunted me as a person that sought things other than alcohol to make my life interesting. I still have those interests (photography is a major one - mostly buildings and scenery) but I also feel stunted because of my low income levels.

Well okay then. I've deduced that I am a small fraction of one percent of the people in the world like me. In older times I would be considered a "spinster", which incidentally, is born from yarn, which I enjoy. I'm unique, that's for sure. Not sure how this blog will evolve, how it will appeal to others or if it will ever have focus; I am ADD after all and in the world of an ADDult focus is hard.

Other than that, it's Friday morning, cat woke me up too early and I should have a plan for the day figured out soon.

I will end this post with a pic of my Jake chewing on a "chewy":

Good morning!

EDIT: PS For some reason this blog's time stamping is way off. I post Mountain time, have an atomic clock and it's about 50 minutes behind the actual time I post. Settings are correct on my end and it bugs me.

DTMMBLB - Do These Make My Butt Look Big?

2009-07-16T20:23:00.004-06:00

Odd title that has nothing to do with this post but instead of LOL or BRB or ROFLMAO I kinda like DTMMBLB. In my head it makes a sound like a cartoon character. And you may think my sober ramblings are strange; you should have seen some of my drunk posts!

I was able to get out and about today since the heat wasn't too bad and the car started right up. She did a bit of protesting a bit later though.

I had intentions of picking up an application at Michael's craft store but the City of Colorado Springs had other ideas for getting anywhere quickly. It was only about 2:00 pm and they were doing some road work just north of Woodmen Road and North Academy Blvd and if anyone that lives or has traveled through that part of Colorado Springs knows, it's not a kind intersection most any time of day. I sat through at least three if not four traffic lights...At that point I said a few curse words in my head and decided to plan that stop for another day.

My only option was to take a left which incidentally is also one way to get into the Hobby Lobby. Thank goodness they have some killer stuff on sale and since I am in serious budget mode, I have to think things through. I ended up getting three little baskets (50% off through Sat.) for 75¢ each to hang in my bathroom. Nothing special but the wall behind the door has been blank and bugging me since I moved in. They also had Ceramcoat acrylics on sale for 99¢ and I picked up Burnt Sienna and as far as I can tell, will work well with a couple of small items I want to paint for the living room...and the paint is almost the exact color of the terra cotta yarn in the afghan I am making. Nothing overboard a few items that will go into or are now in service.

Here's an older pic of my bathroom, nothing special really. The towels and shower curtain (also curtain rings) are from Wal*Mart:

The curtain rod is secured to the wall by the complex so I can't move it up or out so the curtain is straighter...but across from the toilet is where I put the small baskets. I'd like to dye them in some fashion but not sure what type of cheap dye to use. I'd rather not ruin them even if they were cheap.

So, I had a not very interesting day and I am okay with that. I still haven't been sleeping all that well and am feeling it tonight. I think I will just take my valerian root, some melatonin and hit the sack. I had a few things on my mind to post but I will wait when I am feeling a bit more with the program.

To everyone in blog-land, I hope you have sweet dreams when you find them tonight.

Car troubles will not break my spirit

2009-07-15T15:21:00.006-06:00

Here's my Flintstone Mobile pictured last year:

It was a hot day yesterday (for Colorado Springs) and even though my car is parked in a carport, she's used to being parked in a garage where it could get warm but stay relatively cool given the outside temps. I've had problems with her not wanting to start when it's warm and usually she will eventually comply with my request but yesterday she refused. After some googling, apparently early 90s Hondas and Acuras have problems with the main relay for the fuel injection system (which I can probably replace myself as it's located under the dash). I really needed to run a couple of errands and luckily she did comply in the evening and luckily my bank has an ATM inside the vestibule as the ATM outside is not serviced by the bank...so the deposit I needed to make was done and put on today's business as the other can take up to three days...

It was one of those afternoons where I really felt I could walk up to the liquor store to get something to drown the feelings of helplessness and such but I stayed the course and didn't go.

Sleep was very disjointed and have been fighting taking a nap all afternoon so here I sit...rather than leaving the house (if the car will start) I have been watching TV, cruising around the 'net and painted some skewers black...I know, odd. But I did it for this:

That is what sits next to my monitor. The weather station needs replacing but the atomic clock, indoor temp and humidity work so I am hanging on to it until I get a new one. The remote worked but the two quit communicating so I discarded it when I moved.

The white thing is a 12x12 tile in a white granite (I think, it's been a while since I worked in a tile store) that has black/silver and brown/gold flecks. I have two of them that were in the garage of the house but neither my landlord nor I knew where they came from so I brought them to the apartment anyway. I knew I would find a use for them.

The beehive vase is actually an oil cruet I got at the dollar store that has the stopper and spout. When I was at Tuesday Morning the other day, I saw the same exact (no difference what-so-ever) cruet minus the stopper and spout for $3.99! I think the original price they said was something like $9.99. I kid you not, it even had the same manufacturing lines of a diecast type (non handmade) bottle.

The candles and the holders are from the dollar store and the rock is a very soft river rock I picked up one day and it was so smooth, I couldn't resist keeping it. I'm an odd person.

The orange sticks are from one of the dollar store placemats which started to come apart that I didn't feel like fixing so I put some in the cruet with brown sand, painted some bamboo skewers black (orange and black aren't just for Halloween IMO) and there you go. I have other plans for the cruet as a vase but will get to that when I get to that.

The dark brown square thing is a simple cork coaster I painted with brown paint and now that I have found my hot glue gun, I plan on adding some jute on the tops somehow, in some fashion...

So, I am trying hard to stay awake until an hour that makes sense to go to bed. Too early and I am up around 2:00 am and that's just wrong. Too late and I will pass that point of no return.

One of those days but I turned it around. Goodwill!

2009-07-13T17:15:00.011-06:00

I woke up today very late and with a sense of "dread". A day where, before, I would have gone to the liquor store and I am not doing that. Well, I got in the shower even though I really wanted to stay stinky, hibernate in the apartment and wallow in whatever was making me feel dread. I know why my mood was so horrible but sheesh, didn't think it would be that bad.

During one of my travels around my 'hood I noticed that Tuesday Morning had moved to the shopping center right by the apartment. I hadn't been to their old location in ages and ages so I didn't know they had moved despite that it was next to The ARC Thrift store previously.

Since it had been so long, I decided to see what stuff they had. While they have some good quality stuff, being the frugal (and currently broke) person I am I was still disappointed in some of their pricing. I certainly will keep them in mind for when I can afford to get a new comforter for the bed and a blanket but keep an eye out for their clearance sections instead. I don't see that a $100 comforter is all that great a value even if the original pricing was at $195. Uh, cat, dog, out of style real quick. Things like that are rarely an "investment" IMO.

It was storming pretty hard while I was in there so I spent a good hour just going through and looking around and walked out as the storm passed without having purchased a thing. Which is good because one of my goals for the day was to get to Goodwill and look for a few more clothing items. So for $4 or so less than I would have spent on wine (given my mood) I picked up a pair of jeans (full price as it's hard to find my size so I snag them when I can), a nice top, two around the house or quick run to the grocery store t-shirts and a cute little bowl that isn't anything special but made me smile. On the way home, picked up a couple of job applications since my mood was much better. It was hard to put on a smile pre-Goodwill so I waited until I was on my way back home.

The two t-shirts are screen printed. One says "I'm probably lying" and the other says "It's only funny til someone gets hurt...then it's freakin' hilarious". Humorous and cynical, fit my mood and will in the future too. The jeans (Levis 515 bootcut) fit perfectly so I am pleased with a $4.99 price tag as they are in pretty darn good shape. The top is a well made cotton long sleeve knit top which will work for fall through spring. It's a nice red color with a pretty satin look trim around the neck which can be worn alone or under something else in the cold months (or even in the summer when it's a bit chilly out). It was only $1.99 since it was a 50% off tag (green tags were 50% today, red tags 30% off). The t-shirts were $1.39 (red tag) and $1.99 (white tag) but I got rid of a lot of my "around the house/shopping shirts" when I moved as many were nothing more than hole ridden icky things so it's worth it to me.

The little bowl I found was only 79¢ as it too was a 50% off item:

Had it been still listed at $1.59, I would have left it behind but at 79¢ I figured I could afford the little smile it gave me instead of stopping at the liquor store, good trade off. It's now sitting on my monitor stand with a dollar store candle in it. It's not always about if things match your decor but if you like it.

Instead of soothing my mood with alcohol, I got some things (for less $) that will last and needed with a little something extra. Now if the job fairy will bless me, it will all be good.

Good Sunday Morning

2009-07-12T08:19:00.005-06:00

Being a night owl has its upside but I am trying to get back to being a normal wake up in the early morning type person so I can find part-time work to add to my small income.

I launched dateandtime.com yesterday as I am sort of anal about time and like to check the times of sunrise and sunset locally. I checked the calendar and today is 102 days without alcohol. While I am not a "birthday" kind of woman with regards to my sobriety, like many who celebrate with major glee on each milestone, it's interesting to see where I was (oh my, some of my drunk journal posts are horrifying) and where I am today. Sober is good even if I don't embrace AA like many of my counterparts.

After a day of cleaning, straightening up my tiny apartment I called it a day and *gasp* crawled into bed at 10:30. I watched TV for a while and fell asleep during a rerun of "Cold Case" and woke up to a very vocal Sonny who has not figured out that I am far from a morning person. He is a rescue boy so I give him some slack until he realizes I am master of the house and not him...haha, like a cat will accept that gracefully.

One of the first blogs I checked was a penny saved... which stalled me on my usual morning blog check as she has a really cute and dare I say cheap (I like frugal better) way that she's been decorating her guest room.

Oh how I long for a house again. It's been very strange going from a house where I lived close to 11 years (landlord/friend is selling it as he lives across the country now) to an apartment. I don't miss mowing the lawn though. I do miss being able to let the dog out as he needs, the privacy that a house gives you, the quiet, garage....

So I guess I am out of here for the moment to go get a Sunday newspaper, feed the cat and get back to reading my favorite sites later. It is Sunday after all, a good day to be a bit lazy and it's a beautiful morning thus far.

Thrifty Decor Chick

2009-07-11T14:37:00.004-06:00

I know many people follow her, in fact one of my good friends asked me if I knew of her site and YES:

Her blog is one of the first blogs I ran into when I started looking for ideas for my new apartment and soon a new house. She's also one of the many blogs I run to every day to see what she has in store. I get a little disappointed when I realize she has a life off-line and hasn't done an update but hey, not everyone is an outta work web designer (partially by choice) with too much time on her hands.

BTW, she posted two very cool ways to have thrifty and cool looking pillows this week.

:-)

I've been a happy housewife to nobody but me today (I'm not married, no boyfriend so I guess I am a 40something spinster).

I was lucky enough to have a friend drop off a vacuum cleaner he no longer wanted as my Oreck needs a serious overhaul which I can't do financially at this time. Anyhow, it's a Bissell bagless that you can wash out the filters and such so I spent my morning and early afternoon working on that, spray painting a few items, sweeping the area at the front door, sweeping the patio, oiling down my bedroom furniture...stuff I really hate doing but it's been kind of therapeutic today.

Still need to dust and oil down all the furniture in the living room, clean the bathroom and the kitchen floor. Hopefully by the time I am done with that, I can put the vacuum back together and get this apartment carpeting vacuumed well. I had put a new roller brush in the Oreck but the motor siezed up (long fine hair does more damage to a vacuum than pet hair) so the carpets are kinda gross. I probably should borrow a steam cleaner and go over the major traffic areas.

The afternoon rains have come just in time to cool us down here in Colorado Springs. I'm glad I got up earlier in the day than I have been so I could enjoy the sun (even if from inside). Oh yeah, it's coming down quite nicely. Soothing.

Happy Saturday!

$1 Kitchen Decor

2009-07-10T15:41:00.006-06:00

When I was digging through a box of odds and ends that house various things like computer cables (I used to work in IT), craft paint brushes, screen spline tool (from my days as a window & door sales rep) and other odd crap, I came across a set of windchimes that I think I have had (and I recall buying from Hobby Lobby) since 1991 or so.

Going off my "working with what you have" theme, I knew that there was something I could do with them other than tick off the other apartment dwellers and hang them on the patio, hmmmm. I had purchased some $1 bamboo placemats at the dollar store last month to dress up my bamboo trays.

Weird blank space above my sink, orange bamboo placemat, found glue gun, set of old wind chimes...ugly space needs "something". So, it may be odd but it makes an otherwise blank wall have a dash of color and a tad bit of interest:

Hehe.

Wish I had some cup hooks to hang it that match the chimes but oh well, one less big hole to fill when I move so a clear push pin works for me.

Gotta love temporary digs.

Recycling as well: the purple and the white filled bottles you see on the sink were Kroger brand spicy mustard and mayo bottles. As soon as the newer mustard bottle is empty, that will be filled with the lotion instead to match the dish soap (so they both have black caps).

Hope everyone is having a fine Friday!

As seen on...ModernCat.com

2009-07-09T10:56:00.006-06:00

Oh my gosh, this is such a fabulous idea:

*

I subscribed to Modern Cat because I am tired of the same old stuff you see in PetSmart and other pet places either online or in a brick and mortar store.

Don't get me wrong, pet stores can be great places to shop and specifically I love PetSmart because of their cat adoption program. I've rescued from their program before and my Sonny who I got back in May - he's 4 years old - is a welcome addition to my home from PetSmart. What I am not jazzed with is the cat products like perches, scratch posts/mats, etc. They are usually expensive for the material they offer, ugly as can be or simply impractical for space or whatever reason you can think of.

I feel the same way about the dog products I see. As soon as I can afford a new sewing machine, I am making new dog beds for Jake that go with my decor and colors I like without the price and the lack of selection.

Anyhow, the picture links to a materials list and a tutorial.

I wont be doing this for the apartment but it's gone in my favorites for when I am back in a house again. I dig that idea!

This is a Sonny approved post:

*photo composition belongs to moderncat.com

A lamp that was going to Goodwill

2009-07-08T19:08:00.006-06:00

Before:

Cleaning it and trying to get the socket housing to detach so I could pull the cord through to spray paint it. Not going to happen so I ended up using a cheap outdoor acrylic as that's just too much prep work:

Had to clean the cavity here with Q-tips. Amazing how much dirt accumulates over time (not to mention tiny spider webs from sitting in the garage for so long):

Handpainting something takes a while but it's oddly satisfying. There's the jute I plan to hot glue to it where you see the solid brown above...that's assuming I can find the hot glue gun. Found the glue sticks but I gather the glue gun is in storage:

I thought I was being smart by putting a "collar" on the bottom of the housing so I wouldn't have extra paint on the base part. Not a great plan since it stuck but oh well. I used tweezers to get out what I could and got out a Sharpie to cover some of the left over. At that point I wasn't in the mood to mess with it anymore:

And two shots in the bedroom sans the jute. I think it looks okay. Not fabulous but it's doable for now:

"Working with what you have." (on a very, very tight budget!)

Craig's List

2009-07-07T22:30:00.010-06:00

Who doesn't love Craig's List? Specifically the furniture and general categories where you can find all kinds of fun things that any DIYer would love to get their hands on.

But it can be a horrifying journey through people's unwanted items as well. One of the biggest pet peeves are photos. Crappy, not rotated, non-existent or whatever. I think that is one of the best tools to get rid of your stuff, even the free sections can benefit from a photo.

Horrible photos are something I have complained about for years. But when you want to sell something, think it through.

I can't find the post but recently a woman wanted to sell an end table, she included a photo and in the photo the end table had drinks, paper and other crap on it. She freely admitted she was too lazy to remove the items for the picture. What? It makes you wonder how well the item she was trying to unload for some one's hard earned cash was taken care of.

I did find this new listing today which isn't as bad as the one I just mentioned. Doesn't that just make you wanna spend your $15?

Older listing, relisted today and I think I know why nobody has plunked down the $250 asking price. It simply states: Large, comfy deep green couch. Great shape.

On the other side of things, if I had $30 (for two end tables) and wanted that style of end table right now, this is a picture I can nod my head and say the person is doing it right:

We also have this seller who posted the following pic, along with three other pictures and I would highly consider plopping down $100 (less would be preferable) if I had the $ to redo them for my own needs:

That seller even admitted that they needed cleaning. That's a seller I might be able to trust.

Words, words, words...I can understand that in the days where people would actually pay per letter (per word or per line) in the classifieds section of a newspaper you want to be brief but on a big item like a dresser, couch, china hutch and most any piece of furniture adding dimensions will help not only the potential buyer but the seller too. There is plenty of room and you also weed out emails or phone calls asking about those measurements. If I see that the sofa is a monster at 96", I am going to move along as I know that's not a sofa I am looking for.

Don't get me wrong, I have fun looking through Craig's list every night before bed to see what hidden treasures are out there. It also gives me a baseline for when I do find that part-time job, I can see a good deal and pounce on it.

I also get a kick out of some of the ads that are so innocently wrong. I got a giggle out of this one in June: Light wooded armwa in great shape. Two others were "coasters" and "canisters" for the term casters.

So, I am not only a home decor, DIY, crafty blog junky, Craig's List is one of those daily haunts.

Here are a couple of pics of my mish-mashed living room that many wont find pretty at all, it has had a few changes but it's home for another 4 1/2 months. "Working with what you have."

Oh and the "Grandma Made it in the 70s" afghan I am working on for the futon. It's cheap, keeps me from being idle and keeps me from drinking:

Sonny is not allowed on the tables but I could not get mad at him while I was taking pics and since he was there, he got his "I'm sexeh" pose taken for his portfolio.

Clearly a day to stick to myself

2009-07-07T14:00:00.009-06:00

It's one of "those" days. A day where you wish you could take your frustrations out like my cat did last month:

While I was not amused about his nocturnal shredding of a brand new roll of toilet paper, I look back on that and wish I had such an easy outlet. It's the little things today that are bugging me so rather than blather about that I had a few other things in my brain I figure I could post about...see I am not only a serial internet surfer I also love to type out words no matter how meaningless they are to others. It's my blog and I will post what I want to. ;-)

Anyhow, I got to thinking about that lamp in my bedroom. I've left the price tag on the shade just in case I get buyers remorse. But last night when I went into my bedroom, I loved how nicely the black shade tones down the CFL (it's a 15 watt but I am not sure which standard incandescent bulb it's supposed to emulate). It was given to me in a pack of other CFLs by a friend so it's a bit brighter than those I usually buy (equivalent to a 40 watt incandescent). I am not jazzed how the shade overpowers the lamp base though.

Will painting it really make it look right? I tested it with Photoshop very quickly, and I am not impressed. The drawback to photos and retouching is that photos often don't represent an object as well as the eye can see. I've decided to go ahead and paint it. What do I have to lose? It was going to end up at Goodwill when I moved so it can't look worse than it already does...you never know until you try.

Prepaid Lighting

2009-07-06T23:44:00.008-06:00

Those are dollar store LED puck lights installed underneath the top shelf of the two sets of shelves in my living room. There is also one behind the TV. They cast a very low but doable light for late night when I am winding down and are safer than candles when one is feeling a bit sleepy.

To end this night and goofy day, here's a pic of my very vocal rescue cat, Sonny near my $3 throw rugs in the kitchen (from Home Depot). He's a sweetie but needs to tone down the voice a bit:

Working with what you have

2009-07-06T17:00:00.011-06:00

Hehe, per the advice of a friend on Facebook, I gulped and went to get some lithium batteries for my digital camera. Ouch. Rice and beans for a few meals for me!

Anyhow, here's how the bedroom looks (not much different like I said before) right now:

I have pulled some things here and there from my storage unit to try to make my shorter stay here a bit more home-like instead of living like it's just temporary quarters (which it is). With that comes mixing and matching things that normally didn't go together.

The lamp above was in my living room years ago and was replaced because its twin bit the big one after a cat-gone-crazy incident. It sat in the garage for years. Had to buy a new lampshade and since my budget is so dang tight, I went with the black one as the only off white/beige they had that was big enough was about $5 more. It looks bad but nothing a can of spray paint can't fix and a glue gun to recreate the wrap it has currently with some jute...it almost went to Goodwill when I moved so I am not out much. (Target lamp circa 1995, Target shade 2009.)

I'm not thrilled with how the black paint ended up with the picture. It really needs new matting or a completely new look to it but I love that picture as it combines flowers and architecture. Two of my favorite things.

Some things are going to remain a bit barren and/or crudely done because that's just how it is right now. Take my window treatment for example:

The miniblinds are provided by the complex. I desired to have that window be dark in the early mornings (not a morning person) so I took one of the forest green tab top panels I have had for years and tacked it up with push pins instead of installing one of the rods. Since the rod requires the use of a drill, I am not inclined to do that at this time.

Tiny apartment entryways are a huge challenge. Using what I have with a couple of dollar store items, I came up with this:

Another challenge is to coax your graciously given hand-me-down point and shoot camera to see what you see. My desire is to have a full on Canon but that's a different entry on its own. The mirror had an almost identical frame as the big picture in the bedroom which I used as a test to paint before the big frame. It isn't as high up as it appears in the pic. The two little pictures are dollar store frames with scrapbook paper inside. The candle holder also came from the dollar store with a cut-out of a cat so that goes with the dog paw print in the one frame as I have both a cat and a dog.

So, I am working with what I have and working on short time here soooo to end this, here's a pic of my dog Jake I took when I was getting some shots of the bedroom:

A pic of my goofy cat will come at a later time.

My poor, sad little bedroom

2009-07-06T12:43:00.005-06:00

Above is how it looked and still looks (sort of) when I moved in at the beginning of June. In a need to change things, I painted the big picture on the first photo in black. Uh, it doesn't look that great (~~like I said in my previous post I need batteries for the camera~~) and it needs new matting.

Last night while trying to take pics of what it actually looks like now, my camera pooped out on me. I installed brand new batteries and for some reason it states that the battery is "empty"...uh no. I will have to search around to find out why it pooped out and how to get it to work again. This saddens me, greatly.

Things I need to focus on for my bedroom is - a nice comforter, pretty pillows, a nice bed skirt and such that will be transferable to a new home. I can paint if I would like but if I am only going to be here 6 months, this doesn't seem like a good idea as you have to paint it back.

It's pretty simple and on one hand, that's fine with me but on the other, it needs a dash of color other than just the afghan that was in my mom's side of the family from years and years ago.

So, that's the bedroom with my bed. The two stands on either side are the family heirlooms and the big dresser was a find my mom got at a local auction house back in the 70s. It has a gorgeous beveled mirror that goes with it but one of the screws that anchors it (more pics later on that) has broken so I need a new one created.

(sad, sad, sad, I desire my camera to work)

Mondays, blogs and I need to upload pictures

2009-07-06T11:32:00.002-06:00

Happy Monday everyone.

I go through a ton of home decor blogs every morning and they prove to me I need to get a part-time job. Long story short, my web design biz hadn't been tended to (alcohol is a bad thing for me) so the income levels are pretty low. When I go through these blogs, I drool over the creativity of so many people around the globe. It's a feast for the inner "hip" woman inside.

I started thinking about my attempt through the years to make my houses (apartments, houses, town homes that I have lived in through the years) a home I can love and enjoy regardless of where I am. Since I've moved from a house to an apartment recently and hopefully will be in a house again by the end of 2009, I want to focus on core items that I can take from drab to fab. The sad part is, it's only the smaller things I can afford at the moment so the blogs help me dream a bit.

Now, one thing I have learned from looking through the blogs and doing a timeline in my head of things I have purchased (and gotten rid of) over the years, I am finding that it's better to try to stick with timeless and stay away from trendy.

The 80s mauve dishes went bye-bye many, many years ago to be replaced by Pfaltzgraff "Midnight Sun" in black around 1995. I got them at the outlet stores in Silverthorne, CO and had been discontinued. With a quick gander at their site, low and behold, they are back. A testament to design and quality that don't go out of style and if they do, not for long. Probably one of the best home items I have ever plopped my money down on.

Also, in the mid 90s I purchased a bed all by myself. I know, sounds silly but I inherited the family antiques and they are all fabulous but the bed is only a full size and in dire need of some serious TLC anyway. I will have to upload pics of it but it's a black wrought iron looking bed that can have the canopy or you can leave it off. With the smaller size of this bedroom I elected to keep the canopy off so as not to overwhelm the room. A bed frame that has options and still has style? I would say that's a great investment.

What about trendy? Well, I think trendy is fun but I am also not into cookie-cutter interiors that look like an IKEA catalog or what have you. I think developing your own style is much more creatively satisfying and that's why I drool over the "good" home interior blogs. They may not have my style but I appreciate that many have adapted old and new to make it right for them.

So, with all that said, I will hunt down pics of past and present (I also need to get batteries for the camera) of my stuff to show you what I have to work with. It's not all saucy and I am still living in my 20s with a lot of my furniture but as time goes on, I hope to have grown-up things or hacked my 20something stuff into something fabulous. I have a pretty good blank slate to start even though I am in my early 40s...oy, where has the time gone?

This is partially why I'm home playing on the internets

2009-07-04T18:14:00.001-06:00

Mr. Moto, I edited you

2009-07-04T17:54:00.001-06:00

Hehe, I can't leave well enough alone. Eh, I had to make some changes to personalize it a bit for me.

New blog, temporary?

2009-07-04T16:18:00.001-06:00

It's just a blog and here's an introductory post.

I'm not new to blogging either through free services, through Live Journal (and yes, that is blogging but in a different way and I do choose the paid option as it's my therapy), the Facebook thing which is also it's own animal and have had a blog on one of my business hosting accounts. I foresee that this may end up being transferred, at some point, to a Wordpress based blog on my other hosting account. Who knows.

So, what's the purpose? This is for a "new" place and space in my life. I recently went to a rehab facility for alcohol, moved from a house to an apartment and will be moving to a house again; all the while looking for additional income as web design (no I haven't messed much with Blogger, I just set it up) is a bit slow for me.

I've always been completely gaga over anything dealing with home design on all levels. I grew up around the construction industry and worked for my father's window and door company off and on from age 15 to 28. During my time as a sales rep on Colorado's Western Slope, the majority of my window and door sales were to custom or semi-custom builders and homeowners. While sales can be difficult, it was a lot of fun to see people's homes come to life and in that price range, oh the gorgeous and also the hideous things I would see for interior design. This uh, passion, for design has hit me hard since I moved.

I also love, love, love food. You'd think with my obsession with food I would would weigh 500 pounds. Between home design and food I have so many links it's not a wonder I haven't found a job to supplement my income! I think that's also why I am not 500 pounds, I drool over other people's food creations and since I am ADD (yes, bonafide adult ADDer diagnosed long before ADD/ADHD was fashionable) I go from food blog to food blog to home decor blog to whatever I feel like next. When you are spending that much time ogling...uh you get the picture.

At this time I am going to stay with the basics that Blogger offers. I may make some changes but if I move this to my own hosting where I can really get down and dirty with the design of my blog, this will remain as a tract home, if you will.

Happy Independence Day!

LizO