The Pursuit of Happiness....

i'm still kickin'

heres some eye candy...just makes me happy.  Did this girls room a while back....super fun!
these are not so great photos taken w my cell phone.  This was a kids gameroom....I loved my creative sign here.  I used highlights MAGAZINE TO DECOPAUGE and it really turned out so vintage and cute!  I found lots of old games and books at a local flea market. This is the second custom shelf that i have done for a family gameroom.  it has old cards, dice, and dominoes glued on it.  the shelves by the tv have old books (blondie), old cards, wood games, and bingo cards.
and this was another gameroom.  my client request a TGIFridays look...I think I accomplished....the whole room is really cool, but my pictures are not so great!  Just thought I would stop in and share a few things....I have tons of home projects going on.....can't wait to share those! 

bout time

well...well...well....its about time I get back on here!  I am quilty of facebook pleasures and that seems to occupy any few free minutes that I get.  Facebook is my stoplight occupy time....and down time waiting around in lines and such.  And so...if you do follow my blog...you will know that I always refer to myself as "self diagnosed ADD"....well guess what?....I WERE right and my stubborn, difficult self finally went to the doc and got a little magic pill to help me focus.   I honestly didn't know how horrible I was until I went to order from a fast food joint and IT WAS SOOOO EASY!!!  I actually heard their questions AND  I ordered so easily!!!  YAY for me...however; the fog will be lifted for a while and then I have to get back off.....SO I CAN HAVE ANOTHER BABY!   yes, I have decided that at 36....i really don't have the luxury of waiting any longer.  Bout 80% sure i wanna!  20% says I'm fine w my 2 boys.  BUT I KNOW I WILL REGRET when I'm well into my 40's and then it would be too late!  Anyways, I really appreciate my peeps that take a gander at my blog....I'm always surprised to see that people still view it!!!  Half of my problem is that I fear that I will not remember my password to get on and then i don't wanna jack w that....SOOOOO folks....tonight i wrote my password down on my lil paper that has all my passwords (frustrates me that I can't just have the same password for everything....but no!!!   seems like everyone always requires something different causing me to change it up!!!)  Anyways, I am slowly, but surely getting my barn just the way I want it.   My goal is to wrap up all projects, so I can just HANG this summer!!!  I am gonna show y'all a pic of my very enormous entertainment center that I built.  Seems like I have shown bits of this before, but I have added on.  
This crazy thing is 8' wide and over 10' tall.  My hubs helped with the 1st phase w the iron doors, but then he tends to frown upon me when i wanna change something, so the two side cases and the large upper cabinet was done by ' a la me '...moi....me...me..me!!!  (hubs did have to lift it up there).  the coloring in this picture is kinda weird, but I am being impatient and just ran out there and snapped a picture.  Natural is so much better.  the back of the unit is lined w an olive green wainscot.  This total unit cost around $300.....   compared to a similar one at market.....for  $10,000.  The priciest part is the crown, but I always stack mine to make it look more substantial!   the doors were made out of an old screen, so I didn't include them in the cost.   I have come a long way since I have built this...smartened up a bit..become more familiar w woods and learned a few tricks....but this shall do....cuz that sucker is not moving...LOL!  As for the Olive green "telephone" booth w the red door....(not really a telephone booth).....that was built on a whim.  Have I ever told u how comulsive I am....especially when i am in the middle of cleaning house....well thats how that closet originated.....while cleaning....I decided that I was tired of not having a good place to put junk and clutter....and i was at my wits end....SOOOOOO....I took a few measurements and ran to home depot and within a few hours.....I had a closet!   technically....i finished it the next day, because not only do i start a project, but i start moving in all the clutter before the painting was done, nor the door hung....cuz thats how i roll!  But indeed, i finished it all up the next day....hung the adorable lantern   (technically the other reason why I built this is so I could hang this cute lantern cuz i was outta space....shhhh....don't tell....member....i got medicine now :)  anyways, I lurve my new closet, BUT now i have arranged and made a NEW closet for my overflow and so this cute closet now holds every bit of my christmas holiday decor minus the 12' tree and a few garlands and well maybe a few iems overflow into a chest of drawers, but u get the drift....I DONT HAVE TO CLIMB STAIRS FOR MY XMAS DECOR!!!  woo hoo!!!    And all my halloween decor went into the other closet....oh ENUF!   If you read all this.....I Apologize!!! 
oh and on a whim.....I detached my cushions from the couch and took off the covers....probably shoulda found fabric first....whoops!  much more comfy this way, but what an eyesore!!
Toodles!!!

E

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busy!

I have been busy, busy, busy business wise and personal as well.  During my hiatus I was determined to change my way of work.   My old work habits would include working at a clients home til 9pm (sometimes midnight!) I always worked for clients on the weekend, basically, my life was work....but after going thru the dramatic, heartbreaking events that i went thru this past year (maybe one day i will tell u), I decided I had to change.  By the way, my heart was not the one breaking, it was people around me that suffered.  I was real stupid last year, but i had to go through it to get to where I needed to be today.....and guess what....I have found HAPPINESS!!!!   (hint...the pursuit of happiness)  But in this crazy journey of life that we live in, not every day is gonna bring joy, but if I can just catch one or two lil funny things that my boys say...its worth it.   Not every day do I bust out cheerleading moves or shake my booty (which my boys love by the way), but I definetly have found a sense of peace in my life.  So my work reorganization includes.....

1. trying to work a 4 day work week 

2. be home by 5:30 or 6, but try to get boys at 3:15 if possible

3. no CLIENT work on the weekends....thats reserved for all MY fun projects!!!!  and of course family stuff!

4. My clients HAVE to wait ( i do bend over backwards for special occasions)  other than that....i have a schedule and when I'm booked...I'm booked  There is NO SUCH THING as a decorating EMERGENCY!!!!  although my clients tend to think sooo!!!LOL

thats it!  its workin pretty good!!!   I think I just had a problem tellin others NO, but i certainly could tell my family NO!

anyways, I am dying to share some of the fun stuff that i have done to the barn....in time...I  will.....for now....i will leave u will a remodel i did a few years back boy....if you could have seen the before....imagine country blue floral wallpaper....love the closet doors....i may have to steal my own idea for my next house :) i love how i did the backsplash, but geez it was expensive....don't know why cuz they just hammer it off, but i guess it has the risk of breaking! we added this outdoor pool bath ....its very fun! see...thats the outside of the house....we painted the brick to flow with the room....i love the brick!!! guess I'm in bathroom mode....toilet is white...looks bone in pic....i don't know why?  this bathroom stumped me, cuz it connects a boy room and a girl room and there rooms were totally different and didnt even have one color similar, so I just went for a retro black and white....it works :)  the walls are pale gray....the shower has the white 4X8 subway tile with random inserts of the counter top mosaic (yes ....it worked out to be identical in size....a must!!!) 

well i guess its time to shower, snuggle up with hubs and watch the end of Cold case....love that stinkin show!

2 in a row....what do u know!!

just a quickie...loved the way this turned out....did this a long time ago....but thought i would share.  painted black- distressed with sander-added stain...dark walnut(key to distressing) added scrap paper to drawers with modge podge...then hobby lobby chunky hardware....still need to add a finish coat of poly....one of these days :)

Its been a long time!

whew...i am sure everyone has thought i fell off the face of the earth....but i am still around.  lots of crazy things have happened since i posted last, but all for the good!  if you have ever wondered why i have the title "the pursuit of happiness"...well....my absence just explains this... i had to evaluate my life...my status as a wife, mother, daughter, and friend.  i have had enormous ups and downs, but i think i have it all figured out!  if you have commented to me and i never replied....i am truly sorry.  The computer has pretty much been last on my list lately.  Its a crazy busy world out there and i have had to adjust myself in order to function.  Yes, i have missed my blog friends...but this whole blog thing gets my head a whirling and i get all these creative ideas that i take a spin from and before ya know it i have 100 items on my to do list...as if my own creative mind isn't torture enough!!!!    As you can see...i have been busy w quite a few projects...so eventually they may make there debut on here....until then!

the forever tour!

here's a little asain flair for the holidays:  same remodel....but we move from tuscan to a new room....my clients love ....  I think the room is fabulous!!! 

we used the seagrass carpet...so FUN!i must show you later what i did to a problem sink area!  merry christmas!!!

tour continuing on...

been a little quiet here lately....just super busy as usual.  just got back from montana.  the house has really turned out amazing, but there is still so much more work to do.  They will get to actually enjoy it for the first time over christmas.  I stayed in the 11,000sf honker all by myself this past week.  lots of creekies that i just had to ignore!  anyways, i wanted to finish up the tour on the last remodel that i did.  here we go: here is the room where it all started.  lightning struck the chimney and exploded into the home causing extensive damage.  this is the brand new living. 

  we replaced all of the white grid windows in the back of the home with clear glass.  what an amazing difference.  now her pool and backyard has become part of the home.  I highly suggest this expense. 

Happy Halloween 2008

hope everyone has a safe halloween.  this was the extent of my halloween decor this year....can u believe?  but it was enough to make me happy!   

Continuing on....

....just got back from Montana.  I tell you...i am in love.  It was snowing there and i saw so many beautiful animals.  My husband is insanely jealous of this little adventure that I have encountered.  the house is just turning out amazing.  Well as promised....I will continue will the tour of my last remodel.    Here is the guest bathroom.  The transiition of this bath was amazing but I am quite sure that I don't have before pics.  Mirror was $39.99....can u believe?   gorgeous!    Ok....for my next pride and joy.  these were very plain jane cabinets that I painted brown and distressed..  I applied a raised stencil in which I repeated the pattern (lowes $2.98)  I used a terra cotta raised effects paste from Michaels.  i went ahead and painted brown on top.  I lightly sanded so the terra cotta showed through slightly.  I used a black antiquing glaze all over (lowes).  Finally....last detailed step....I gently rubbed a light gold accent only on raised stencil.  Very subtle and very carefully.  Simply the most stunning cabinets i have ever seen.  Pictures never do it justice.  My client almost cried!  Don't you love those antiqued olive walls!  Really a low cost fix to a bathroom that now looks like it could be on tour!   I actually had to steal my own idea and I did this same thing to a piece of furniture in my house!  I love stealing my own ideas!

As Promised

Do you ever have those days where everything seems to be difficult and everything seems to not go your way?   Well....that seems like my everyday anymore.  Every time I plan anything....nothing seems to go as planned.  My time just slips away and before you know it....it's 2am in the morning.  Enough on that......as promised.... the start of the tour of the home that I remodeled.  Enjoy!

I had some Beautiful bronze trim that ran along the hood in that space that would have tied the iron together, but my client's husband decided he wanted the hood to be simple.  I kind of think it needs that bit of bronze.....

I did all of the finish on all of the cabinets icluding this gorgeous island. I used a stencil on the doors with a rubbed gold paint.  And the island legs just speak for themselves.  The legs are on the other end as well.  I also higlighted them with the gold as well.   The base on the island was a chocalate paint with a black glaze.  Of course...I hand distressed all of the cabinetry.  here is a little secret.....the gorgeous hardware is from Hobby Lobby for $2.99  and that not even the sale price.  If I had got it on sale it would have been $1.50!   I blackened it and added the rubbed gold as well.   

Ok now this little cabinet was built to cover there phone/security system.  Plus it acts as a catch all station where the can charge there phone, leave the keys.ect.ect.  I left the iron open so they could here there system, but it cleverly masks the ugliness of it.   Love it!                                                                    As you can see....quite a bit different.  We moved the stove to this main wall so it would be the focal!  I was also able to include a walk in pantry with the new design. This ends the tour for today!  Off to more projects!!!!

Montana

Hey everyone...i am still around.  Life just seems to slip away so fast.  What seems like forever...comes and goes.  My kiddos are growing up and I find myself in a sticky situation.  A bump.  I love my family and they are most definately #1 in my book....but everyday life seems to slip away so fastly.  I'm stumped.  My business is crazy.  Coming off a crazy remodel....and then wisked away to Montana 10,000sf home.  I didn't even go to bed the night before I left.  Right in the middle of the beginning of school and football (in which I have yet to go to a practice).  Meanwhile I have around 15 clients who have been waiting patiently for my time....and while I was away in Montana...I had 3 more potential client calls.  Montana is actually enough for my plate....but I have so many faithfuls.  Some parts of me just wants to stay home....but how do you turn off a creative mind?   My husband has had enough with all the crazy projects going around here...and Montana just stirred up some more.   Ohhhh, how exciting the trip was.  Rustic....just down my alley.  The Motana home is at the tip top of the mountain.  The road was cut over a 2 year period if that tells how insanely tall this mountain is.   All land surrounding is the owners....including the property across the street.  They will be installing there own ski lift.  Here is a peek at the view:

and look at this.  This is the entry into a business called Big Timber Works.  They are doing some of the projects on the home.  I have been collecting limbs around my property for a while and everyone has been giving me a hard time about my pile.   At least I can show them a visual of what I had in mind.  See....honey....don't burn my limbs.

Ok....back to the remodel.  The long awaited pics.   I have to give you an appetizer until I finish taking pictures. Isn't it purdy?   We do have hardware installed now...which even makes it more stunning....wait until you see the island.  I must brag and say that my two hands built the hood.  curves and all.   Boy that was a little confusing.  It took about 5 hours and then around 1am....my hubby came out and helped me put on the sheetrock.  I did a very cool texture with burlap on it.  I will have to get a close up.  My client wanted tuscan....I think I succeeded!

Busting

at the seams with anticipation......the kitchen....pretty much done....a few little details...and then I will unveil.....I promise.  It is exactly what I envisioned and I am so glad to see the results.  my clients are thrilled!!!!  Me....I think I may have to take some time off and just relax for the rest of summer....whats left!

What's goooing onnnn!!!

Beautiful...huh!  Right in the middle of my craziness....I had to stop, pack and go on vacation.  I never even slept the night before we left.  I had had the disney vacation planned for over a year.....and never in a million years would i have dreamed that i would have had been right in the middle of a crazy remodel.  We stayed at orange lake resort.  It was quite beautiful.  We had a crazy start to vacation, but in all, it was relaxing and fun.  We did not do all the Disney stuff, but we at least got our feet wet.  I really didn't plan on doing multiple parks, because I planned to relax a bit.  That's why we got the resort with an uber cool pool.  My hubby got mad at me because he didn't think I pulled my weight on pool time.  Man....I just wanted to relax and read gossip magazines.  I told him to look around.....it was ALMOST ALL dads in the pool.  He wanted to relax as well!  Gosh....I was so out of the loop....I didn't even know that Lindsay Lohan was bisexual now.....WHAT?   so sad.  What a messed up girl!   Let me make a disclaimer.....I do think that some people truly are born with the wrong organs, but the bi thing....I can't buy.   Here a picture of my uber cool Guys!  As for the remodel....The kitchen is a functioning kitchen, but it still lacks all of its pretties.   So....Demo started 5-19-08, and the project should be around 90% complete by next week.  6 week remodel....not too bad.  That also included all new texture, and paint through all main areas of home, and all new flooring, an office, guest room ,and guest bath remo.  Not to mention....working around another crew that has handled the living room remodel from disaster....they have been there for over 3 months.  Did I mention that lightning struck my clients fireplace and it exploded into the house.  That's what spurred the whole remodel to begin with!  crazy..huh?

Coolest Bench

Isn't it the coolest.  I MADE my client buy this a year ago, after we finished up her remodel.  She wanted it, but after spending close to $200K on the remo, she had been cut off.   But.... some things, you just can't pass up.  It was from Hemispheres, which is the up line of Hobby Lobby.  I just think its killer!   just posting a quickie here, because....as you know...when you are trying to do a kitchen remo in 3 weeks....there just isn't much time left.   The kitchen is gonna Rock!

How could I be mad?

I'm on my computer trying to file my very late quarterly sales tax and my sweetie is sitting below me playing quietly.  He has a habit of emptying my drawers full of scrap supplies.  Anyways....I turn around and find this.  Initial madness...turned into laughter...grabbed the camera.   Although, this isn't the first time he has done this, but I guess he is only a child once....and it was his birthday.   

Hangnails, dried cracked hands, unmanicured nails, horribly unpedicured toenails, hairy legs....yep that's me and I would like to say I have taken care of this, but I would be lying.  Gosh, I run around looking so unkept, but seriously...when do I have the time....umm right now you idiot...get off the computer!!!  Half the time I have paint on my hands, in my ring, on my toes(overspray).  Oh the life of a decorator.  Well at least this decorator.  You see, i am a do it yourselfer, and I do all my installs.  I can't even fathem having someone else come in and help out,  but look at where i am now.  i have to figure something out.  You see.... I am a decorator for all budgets... and I mean all.  from $500-$200,000.  Which, the high number is truly an exception.  Most of my clients have really tight budgets, in which I kill myself trying to acheive the look that I want, so it sacrifices my time and my family time in order to deliver.  My family so wants me to up my charge, but this is what I like.  It's easy to go out and spend a bunch of money, but it's a challenge  to spend a little and acheive the results.  Design on a dime.  Yep.. I love it, but I am literally killing myself.  So....new rules.  I am no longer going to be buying items that are great deals, but they have to be painted.  Can't do it.  Unless, of course it is just too good to pass up or it's for me.  I have to limit myself on making things myself for clients.  It just takes too long and I don't charge hardly anything.  With that said.... it is still my goal to give every client a little something different.  Something out of the norm and sometimes funky.  I love what I do but my life, my family, my health is suffering.  With that said lets take a look at a room that cost $350.00 plus my time.  So I painted this and sanded and added all the flowers and the boa.

Made the ribbon curtains and glued on flowers and rhinestones.  A lot of time. whewwww!     Another paint job and sanding, and I added ribbons to the skirt.  So cute in real life! She had the picture and the table set, but I painted them , added ribbon and made a tiny vase for the table. made the shelf and it would not be complete without those frogs! Made this table for the TV.  A peice of MDF decopaged and painted, more ribbons and boas.  total cost: $20.00

ADOOORABLE!!!  I wish you could see the bracket.   Painted frame that the client already had.  Added eyehooks for dance outfit to hang and the whole thing hangs out about 5 inches off the wall from a shabby pink bracket.   Bedding: clearance $29.99. Disney princess wall decals....Can't go there, so I had to come up with something creative, because the girl loves them.  Cheap frames that I painted pink.  I scrapped each one and typed a little magical quote on each one.  It took care of the random wallies all over!  Total room cost......are you ready....$500.  Yes $150 for my time.    I don't have any other pictures, but it goes on and on.  Shelves aroun the top of her room...ect.. ect...  The $150 covered the install time.  So they got about 10 hours of free time!  Why do it....cause I love em and they have given me lots of business.  I have only advertised one time in 4 years ( in the beginning) and everything else has been word of mouth.  I love my clients!

Not just one chandelier, but two my dear friends.  How spoiled rotten?  It was actually my idea This was one of my big remodels and we extended the bedroom, so it became very long which I felt 2 was in need.  Of course the mother totally agreed. This is her little vanity area which I am sure she will really enjoy when she get to be a teen.  Isn't that light killer.  Killer price too!  This is the area that she calls her office....and I am not allowed in her office.  I removed all the junkie stuff before the picture...but we allowed her to have this area for all that unmatching crafts and trophies...ahhh she would be mad if she knew I touched her area.   

I tend to do the hanging frames quite a bit!

and every little girl deserves a little zebra.  I added this last when I stumbled upon it at Stein Mart.  I think it just finished the room off perfectly.  I love the light hanging off her closet.  Not sure that I could have forked out the dough for this, but I am glad her mother did.  See why I don't have a little girl...can you imagine!  i will have to give you a tour of the rest of the house later!

Still here

CRAAAZZZZY busy here.  my life is nuts.  I never knew this business would be soooo crazy, but i guess it is good to be wanted!  Just a quickie here.  What oh what to put on a wall with odd windows and such a huge space between......and not break the budget.  I came up with this and it just turned out so cool.  Of course pictures never do it justice, but it is pretty darn awesome in person.  I had done the curtains back in December and I couldn't wait to get this finished off.  The hanging mirrors are from Hemispheres for $125 and I made the hanging baskets.  The Iron brackets are really big behind it, but you can't see it here.  Still think the walls are screaming for color, but her hubby does not want to hear that!  STAY TUNED....

A days work

A twist on my signature bedding...haha!  I have used this fabric combo 6 times now, and I said no more, but my client already had the fabric....love it!  She had the fun Flower fabric in which i had not used before...so as I said...a twist.  I threw in the black and whites as a surprise.  they loved it!

This seems to be my signature curtain.  It is a rod iron bracket from Hobby lobby on the sides.  This is what I plan to do in my kitchen if I can ever find time.

My mother saw these round metal things in my cart and asked me what i was doing with these ugly things.  (they were grey)  I said I had a plan, but at that point was to only paint them, then i decided to throw in the mirrors, love the effect!  Some of the dots are reflections, which looks really cool!  How fun....these girls...I tell ya...

Isn't this cute?

This was one of my client's homes, and I loved this idea.  Now I wish I had some stairs...well at least some with railing!  She had her stockings here and when she took them down it looked empty so she got out her scrap paper and printed the words, framed them, and added ribbon.  Her home is gorgeous and I was honored that I was referred to her.  She had me come in and polish off the main rooms(accessorize).  She was a great helper!

Back online!

Finally I'm back....what a mess!  Update:  I'm super busy...I have at least 1/2 of my to do list completed...although I have been adding more and more to it...i have lost a total of 24 lbs!!!!!  woo hoo!   (with no exercise, although that will be starting soon).  Just a quickie until I really have some time to post some good stuff.  This was the entrance that I did for my son's school auction.  Somehow, someone caught wind that i am a decorator and I got suckered in.  I'm glad i did it.  It turned out nice.  A lot of bang for little money, but a LOT of time.  The branches are from my back yard painted silver.  the large birds are from hobby lobby for and I added in the tail feather( from floral dept.), also from Hobby lobby for a total of $4.00 vs $15 for the ones on the internet!

I built the table myself...ok a little help from the hubs, much cooler IRL.  very distressed and hand carved!

Take a loss!

thanks so much to all of you that are checking in!!!!  i am thrilled to see that i still have stats.  I have decided to take a loss with redmoon and go with a more reputable company.  I hate that i will have to pay $55 a month for internet, but oh well...gotta have it.  Redmoon was suppose to be out to fix it, but then called and told us that we had to install some 20 something foot pole in our back yard, and then maybe it would work.  no thanks you jerks!  were done!  The new company should be out within 10 days.   I have been INSANELY busy, so maybe no internet was a blessing....but I miss all of you and I have a lot of catching up to do!!!!

Still no internet

I'm so frustrated!  I have had to go to the city council in order to get this company out here to fix our problem.  I tell you.....its all in who you know.  As I had mentioned after paying $800 installation for high speed internet, the company just flat out told us...oh well....we have done all that we can do on our end.   Whattttt????  what kind of company does this? They will be out this week, and they are apparently stumped as to what to do about our problem.  Apparently, they can't figure out why it worked for 10 months and then just quit. Hopefully it will work.  Me....you remember the jeans picture I posted a while back....I wore them last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Pumped.  I am about to start running again.  I have a race in March!  Can't wait to show you my projects.  I'll be a posting fool....maybe!  TTYL   -a

No internet!

So sorry to all my loyal readers...I am not ignoring, but we have been experiencing internet problems for the last two months.  After spending $800 for installation on high speed internet over a year ago....I can't believe that I am having to deal with this.  As of last saturday, it had just went kapooey!  Gone!  I am at a friends house right now just checking in.  We are going round and round with the internet company and they are trying to Charge us an $85 fee to come fix it.  I think not!  Anyways, I turned it over to my hubby and they will be out next week to fix it for free!  I have actually done quite a few projects so far, and my business is crazy, so I am pretty much working around the clock.  pictures coming soon!  wait till you see my pantry door.....oh and my recliner!  Til then....

More craze

Seriously....it has to be a sickness.  It must be the cold weather outside, but I just keep piling on the projects in my house,and I just feel full of creativity.  Problem is...I'm too busy with other peoples houses.  The Dallas Market was this weekend and can we say....awesome!  I left there unusually wanting everything.  Not that I don't always want, but this time it has made me itch for my new house....but I will have patience....besides, I'm not through experimenting with the barn.  I think I will feel better making a list of my upcoming projects.

1. Pantry door experiment

2. Paint hall walls

3. Paint cabinet in scraproom Turquoise.....yes...turquoise...finally!

4. Paint accent wall and install shelves in laundry.

5. Finish closet organization

6. Artwork experiment in living room

7. Order glass shelving for iron cabinets

8. Put pictures in empty frames in laundry and hang new frame.

9. Might as well stecil something on ironing board door...just added that!

10. Paper mache boxes

11. Add harlequins on my tin container.

12. Install iron flower box under tall window.

13.  Hang wrought iron above window in kitchen and figure out curtains.

14.  Finish boys canvas project

15. Figure out floating shelves.

16.  Make an old rustic wood top for a side table.

17. Make an entry bench with basket storage.

18. Make funky patchwork pillows for couch and bench.

19. Finish installing kitchen harware and paint island hardware black.

20.  Old chest project

21.  Finish upstairs attic projects

22.  Dining chairs project.

23.  Glass urn ideas

24.  finish staining, painting all doors in house.

25.  Reupholstery chair

Did you read that last one!  Now I have never in my dreams ever thought of reupholstering a chair...actually a rocking recliner...until last night.  My husband walked out into the living room last night at 2am and about died.  I had the whole back pulled off the chair.  Luckily...he has faith in me, but he just doesn't understand why I would start it in the midst of all the other projects I have going.  Did I mention that I have irons in the fire with at least half of the above projects.  Remember...A D D.  Or as my husband says Andrea Danielle Designs...that is my business name...funny that it's initials are ADD. I like the chair and it is the most comfy darn thing...but I am tired of the cheetah print.  A little is fine, but not the whole darn thing...too bad it wasn't zebra!  The chair will still have cheetah on parts, because I am not that good!  We'll see.  Anyways...I feel better already...just getting all those crazy projects down on a list. woohoo!  Let's see...I will leave you with a picture....

Ahhh... there we go...ready for this weather.  This is my friend's pool that they had remodeled.  They added the hot tub, the beach entry, a really cool underwater table with booth seating that you can't see in the picture, all new stone, and waterfall...who am I kidding the whole darn thing has been changed.  I just worry about the crazy golfballs.  They find them in their pool all the time.  My luck...I will be the one who gets hit in the head!  Coming soon...a new ME!

Bad blogger

Yep,   I have been real bad.  I am so sorry to my faithful readers in which I am so proud to finally have!  I have just been swamped.  So many of my clients were sooo ready to get going right after the holidays, so I have been consumed.  right now, I am trying to knock out 2 little girl rooms...soooo cute.  Can't wait to install.  For now, I will leave you with some pics I forgot to post at christmas. ......I  know....we are totally over christmas, but what is interesting is that this is my old house with the new owner.  Most people don't get to ever see there old house ever again, but I am lucky enough that the new owners are extremely nice and call me when they straggling mail addressed to me even though my address has been changed for almost 2 years.  And sometimes I even get packages delivered there....crazy! I love how she did the entry.  And that telephone booth is too cute.  I also love the pottery barn cafe curtains in the dining. And look at this tree.  pictures just dont do it justice.  It literally has to be the most beautiful tree I have ever seen.  It is all done with the mercury glass ornaments from pottery barn.   Whooo...can we say exxxxpensive.  I have finally met my match with christmas decor.  She is as crazy as I am, and has so many neat ideas throughout the house.  Ok, I promise no more christmas. 

Busy

Well, I am still around, but i have been keeping myself busy cleaning out every inch of my home....not joking!  There is not a drawer or cabinet that I have not touched.  It's still quite a wreck, but that is the process.  All the christmas is gone, but i have not decorated yet, but I have moved things around.  I have to have change.  That is a constant in my life.  In college, I moved about every six months...apartment...to home... to duplex...to fourplex...to duplex...to apartment...to apartment...to apartment...to apartment...to apartment...to a house...to apartment...to a house...to the travel trailer...to the barn.  Wow, I never have written that out before.  My dad hated me.  I think after my 5th move he said he was done, but he always came around.  Our last move will be easy...out the door and a few hundred feet away.  That will be it!!!!  Anyways, I will be taking pictures of all of my upcoming projects soon.  I have so much to share, just not enough time, and my internet is still misbehaving.  Here is some info off of an old layout that I did about myself for those who may want to know more about me!

One thing I won’t let my husband buy me…..custom order flowers, I’d rather have a new pair of shoes!

One thing I would love to have, but I probably will never have……..all matching wooden hangers in my closet

One thing you will never find in my closet………….wire hangers, hate them!

One thing I would choose if I were having elective surgery………a tummy tuck

One thing I love about my face………..my eyes

One thing that I love to do………..go to the Parade of Homes

One thing I would like to change if I could………...to become a morning person, life would be so much easier!

One thing I would change as a mom………..to dedicate more full attention play time with my kids

One thing I would do if I had unlimited money………..take more vacations

One thing I that I will not do again……….run a marathon!  A half marathon maybe!

One thing that I would like to do……….go to the

Figi

Islands

One thing I could do without……………cold weather

One thing I love to smell………cinnamon candles

One thing I would do if I won the lottery……..adopt a needy family, including the parents

One thing that infuriates me.....when someone cuts in front of me when a new register opens!

One thing that I love about winter………..Christmas

One thing I love about scrapbooking………..it has made learn to document the cute things my child says

One thing I am addicted to ………..Shopping

One thing I pray for………….for my kids to remain safe and healthy

One thing I wish I had………more patience

One thing I would do again, regardless of the pain……have another child

One thing that I absolutely hate to do………laundry

One thing that is weird about me………..I am the most unorganized, organized person you will ever meet.

One thing that I need help on………….to stop being a procrastinator

One thing I find most relaxing………..a hot, hot bath

One thing that could get me in trouble………road rage

One thing that annoys me……..clothes being hung over the top of the laundry hamper

One thing I dread; therefore, don’t do very often……..mopping all of my tile floors

One thing that I have learned, but still sometimes forget……It’s the simple things in life that make you the most happy!

My boys room!

So we have officially lived in the barn for 1 year.  Luckily, we have officially finished the boys room.  I am going to say that my excuse was the fact that I was letting the tin for the ceiling develop a weathered look...ahem-mm... but I know I could have sped up the process with some good ole vinegar.  Anyhow, the tin ceiling is finally done, which means they now have a ceiling fan and some lights vs. a light bulb hanging from a wire(smile).   So here we go.  The tin has rusty spots as well as a white weathered look.  Just think beach shack!

I built the red shelf over the desk out of MDF all by myself.  I wanted a place to keep all craft items.  The clear bins keep everything "somewhat" organized, and there is a place for notebooks and construction paper.  The tank holds 2 frogs and a newt.  I have the lovely job of feeding them live crickets!....YUCK!   

1.  Board shorts as curtains...a fave!  8x10 pics of us at the beach...I added some fun rub-ons and beach quotes out of my stash.

2.  Bamboo ladder in which I had planned to somehow hang pictures from that all matched, but then came up with this idea....thrilled....so different!  3.  See this picture...I would have never done this had my talented friend....heather ann...posted one like this of her girls on her blog.  If you have never visited her...you are definitely missing out.  She has inspired me in many ways.  An all around girl!  I already had these inexpensive glass frames that I had originally purchased for Marshall's artwork, but it really did not do this picture justice in such a colorful room, an then I got the idea to decoupage an unused canvas with some of my scrap paper.  Then I mounted the glass frame to the canvas and now it makes a statement.  4.  The stars...I have had for for around 12 years now.  A splurge I made in my early 20's.  I had ALWAYS wanted to put lights in them and hang from the ceiling  and FINALLY...after all those years..I am satisfied.  the boys chose blue and I think they look great.  They are thrilled!

I was about to put the red shelf in the garage sale because I did not have a place for it, but i thought it was too cute to sell, so I came up with the idea of decoupaging square chipboard with beach paper that was in my stash and I hot glued it over the square tins on the shelf.    The basket bins above holds all the crazy toys.  I absolutely love it... and I have heather ann to thank for that one too!  She has one in her office to organize her craft supplies.  Its from Ikea.  And you can barely see the big red lobster and a huge shark mouth picture ...hand picked by my seven year old.   I had originally planned to mount the tiki torches to the wall, but I didn't have the space, but I like them around the bed...there are no wicks to them..HA!   Here is what I surprised them with at Christmas.  My son was so thrilled, he said, "I just love having a mom that's a designer".  Ahhhh!  As I had mentioned the lobsters, in which you still can't see the large one...I found them at Ross and almost passed them up because I couldn't think of what exactly to do with them. (One is behind the tree)  I loved them, and since they were dirt cheap, I decided I would take them and ponder a while.  Walllaaa....I decided to make a sign out of scraps of leftover cedar.  I got the letters from my beloved hobby lobby.  the boards are all cut irregular and there is a net on it if you can see.  It's a huge sign.  Sure am glad I learned how to work the saw this past year.  I'm a project maniac now!  Of course the boys are begging for the lights to stay up and I say...What the heck.  I'll  put away the tree and snow globes, but the lights can stay.  They also have lava lamps up there.  And don't miss my  cool waiter shark...love him!  He has sunglasses on.  I have one more project left in this room and I will share that later.  It's almost 3 am , and I guess I should go to bed...told you I was a night-owl!

My Craze!

Finally, my internet is fixed.  My webinz crazed seven year old has been dying!  He's been worried that his seal is starving!  I bought him one just to check it out, and now he has already made a list of what other ones he wants.   He's just like me...I'm afraid to say.  I even went on there one night and played a game so I could earn him some money to purchase some stuff for the room.  You know me...I'm all about decorating.  Anyways, I have been sick since Dec. 14th.  After a good solid week of sickness, and me trying to ignore the fact that I was about to pass out, I finally decided to stay home and get some rest.  I did not leave the house for 4 days.....A RECORD!  It kills me to be sick, and unless I am vomiting, I never stay bedbound.  Therefore, I had to find something that would be productive, but I could still sit and somewhat get some rest.  So I totally braved into the world of digital scrapping.  Now, I don't know if I have ever said that I am computer retarded, but I am.  I have no clue what the names of things are, so it does me no good to try to read to learn.  I just have to trial and error it.  I have memory mixer, which is pretty idiot proof, but I already tired of what they have to offer.  From what I read, you can not download other peoples kits into it, so I went to their sight and downloaded a few freebies, but wasn't impressed with the kits they had for purchase.  So kind of with my own stupidity, I kind of tricked the system, because I had also downloaded other freebie kits off the internet and they showed up in my picasa file as pictures, so I was able to use the papers and embellishments with my memory mixer, by opening a picture.  Works like a charm, but i have not printed any, so we will see.  I will eventually upgrade my scrapping software when I feel brave enough.  Does anyone know of a good one that lets you have a lot of options, but is idiot proof???? Ok, here is a little entertainment.  I threw in some pictures to get you through all my rambling.  This is my baby, who is 3 1/2 now and will not let me call him a baby anymore...sniff.  I can't help it but he is a gorgeous little thing!  His eyes are green now.  They were so blue for the longest time.  ANYWAYS, this leads to my latest obsession.  With my down time, I noticed that my computer was getting really slow.  Of course, I don't have a clue and my hubs told me that I probably had too much junk on it.  Guess what?  I DID!  I cleaned out everything.  My documents is almost empty.  Deleted all those paper scrapping scans...AND cleaned out my Picasa2.  If you don't have this for your pictures...it's a must.  I downloaded it a few years ago and I just absolutely love it.  I use it to adjust all of my pictures and it has so many options.  I have adobe, but heck, I can't even crop a picture in that thing...seriously.  The only thing I use my adobe for is to resize a picture, erase something, add words to a picture, or clone tool to erase boogers or a fly away hairs.  Other than that....Picasa does the rest.  My picasa is so organized and clean now.  I went through every file and deleted I am sure thousands of pictures and only kept what was truly a good picture.  I also edited every picture that needed it and renamed my files.  I also combined some folders, which was something I learned through trial.  Now all of my design pictures are in one folder.   I also moved pictures around in each folder to better make since to me when viewing. I only have  a few files to go, but my computer is running super fast now.   I completely deleted my kodak easy share.  I also found that I have a costco organizer on my computer in which I am not sure where it came from, but I sure do love it as well.  It updates pictures files everytime you open it and it has a few  collages that I have been playing with to use in my digital scrapping, therefore saving time.  And I can order my prints, since this is where I get all of my pictures developed.  Ok, I guess this post is long enough...I'll shut up now.  I'm just so proud of my Picture organizing accomplishment, and since it is a new year....I vow to keep up with it deleting and editing as I load, so I never have to deal with 4 years of pictures again.  Seriusly now...I will shut up!