Do-It-Yourself or Disaster-It-Yourself?

One of my favorite blogger gals, Susie Harris, over at Bienvenue, had a little do-it-yourself project and it started me to thinkin' (no, I didn't hurt myself)...what little projects would I like to take on? I am always looking for a project that I can add to "Never-ending-list-o'-projects", so here are a few I would like to try from my new favorite store on the planet, Wisteria:I have a file folder like this except it is brown leather. Nice, but it's not fun. I think you could easily decoupage some fun scrapbook paper or even adhere some beautiful fabric and add some grosgrain ribbon to the top to get a similar look.
Okay, y'all know my thing for the beach and anything beachy such as sand, starfish, shells, shall I go on? I could make about 5, 345 of these with all of the shells that I have scavanged over my past 3 trips to the beach. By the way, if you go to South Padre, you won't find any shells on the beach. They are all gone. Every last one of them...sorry 'bout that.
Books. Love 'em. These are funtastical! If you just wanted something decorative for your IKEA bookcases (like me) or your full-walnut paneled library in the Hamptons (not like me), you could spend a fortune, or just cover some blocks of scrap wood (book-sized, please) and decoupage some fun scrapbook papers over them, sand & ink the edges, wipe on a glaze & tie them up with some thin leather or twine.

Here is another fun thing. Eggs are gorgeous. One of God's most beautiful gifts to us humans. There is little that can rival the beauty of a robin's egg, in my opinion. The soft blue with speckles of brown are the perfect color combination (who knew that God was a designer?). I think you could probably acheive the same effect by sandwiching (oooh, I am hungry, sorry...it's dinner time here) some faux eggs in a glass shadow box and adhering it to a taper candleholder & matching finial. You could even just leave the shadowbox, as is, and just call it a day....OR you could back it with some coordinating SCRAPBOOK PAPER (yeah, I have a thing for it, can you tell?) and put it in your IKEA bookshelf as well! No, IKEA doesn't pay me, but they should...Speaking of IKEA, I got their new catalog in the mail yesterday and don't think that I haven't already perused it 3 times and made little notes all over it. Okay, back to the subject at hand...Last but not least, yes, another marine inspired piece.

I call this "Big Whale on a Stick". I should write descriptions for catalogs, I know, but I am entirely too busy. Can anyone say wood & skill saw? Yep. Simple as that...I think...

Okay, now here are just a few fun little things from Wisteria that I can't make myself, but I still like anyway.Don't know why I like this little guy so much. Maybe it has to do with all of the deer heads that I had adorning the walls of my parent's living room as a child. Maybe I just like hamburgers a lot...don't know. By the way, I do love a good hamburger...sorry again, still haven't had dinner.

This little nugget is just about as purdy as they come. It just screams, "cottage" doesn't it? I think I might just have to save up for this little gem.

Have you done any fun copycatting lately?

Sneaky peeky...you know you want to look!

Just a little sneak peek of my laundry room.

Oh, F.Y.I., I know that my "Oxiclean" and "Clothespins" tags are on the wrong jars...I already fixed them thank you very much :)

The cutest little things ever! Just got some wooden tags (at Hobby Lobby - $.99 for a pack of 4), printed off the words on scrapbook paper, Modge Podged those puppies on there, inked the edges, put another layer of MP, drilled holes in them, and ran twine through and around the jars.

I think I will tag everything I can find!

Yes, quite shiny aren't they...yeah, still debating on these things. Way better than before, but just a little too...shiny. They are actually buring my retinas as we speak. Yikes! Maybe a coat of KILZ and some cream paint will help. Suggestions anyone? Look away, look away before it's too late!

New floral arrangement or giant sushi...it's your call

Okay y'all...trying to figure out an arrangement for my dining room table has been the biggest thorn in my side! I will just tell you now that I adore design. I have an all out passion for it, but it doesn't necessarily come naturally. Some of my friends, acquaintances, family members, pets (well, maybe not pets) may say otherwise, but I can just tell you in all honesty...I am a good faker. A good faker and a great copycat. Soooo, when it came to an arrangement for my table, I tried to find someone to copycat and just couldn't find exactly what I wanted, so I winged it...or is it "wang" it...no, that doesn't sound right, maybe I "wung" it...oh for heaven's sake, nevermind!

So, here is what I came up with:

This is what it started out as:

A glass hurricane vase, 4 bags of decorator's sand, 2 large silk leaves, one starfish, a silk orchid branch, and 5 candles.

First, I wrapped the leaves around the bottom of the vase. Then I poured in the sand, shoved the candles in, clipped off the orchids at the base of the stem, shoved them in the sand and put the starfish in the front. (Apparently, there was a lot of shoving involved...I think I was having a moment at that particular point in time.)

What do ya' think? I always love to hear what my peeps think (as long as it is adoration and praise, mind you).

By the way, the hubs said it looked like sushi. He also said he didn't like my silver seashells. Darn that man and his opinions! Can't he just not care like every other man on the planet? UUGGHHH!!

P.S. I will have some updated peeks into my laundry room reno tomorrow. Stay tuned!

A winner & another project on the neverending list o' projects

Okay y'all, I know that I am a bit late in posting this (it was a long weekend), but congrats to Michelle at From House to Home (http://fromhousetocozyhome.blogspot.com/)! You get your choice of either a custom clipboard or picture frame. I'll contact you for the specifics. I can't wait to see what you come up with. Your blog is FAB! P.S. I am totally going to redo my pantry now. I am so inspired!

Okay, I have begun another overhaul. The decorating bug has taken over my laundry room. Some people think that decorating a laundry room is a total waste of time because it is such a utilitarian space, but I figure that I spend 95% of my day in there (well, maybe that is just a little exaggerated, but not much) so why not make it purdy. I began by "borrowing" an idea from another blogger and brushing Polyshades stain directly, yes, directly over my oak cabinets. I know, crazy isn't it? No sanding, nuthin'. It is definitely going to take 2 coats, but it already looks 10 times better than before. Now, the other thing that I have done is paint the walls and ceiling (first ceiling I have ever painted) a beautiful light turquiose color. It reminds me of a Tiffany's box (not sure if I am 100% sold on the color, but I will live with it for a while and see). I have lots of other little goodies happening, and I will post some "in process" pictures later (the hubs took the camera to E's soccer camp this morning).

My 100th Blog Post..and 2 Giveaways!

Wow! I can't believe that I am 100. Man, I really look good! HA!So, for my 100th post, I am going to do a giveaway!

The lucky winner will win either a custom frame, or clipboard, made by their specifications (like the ones in my etsy shop: http://www.chicksinthesticks.etsy.com/) (some examples are above)

The winner will be chosen at random on Friday, July 24th, and I will contact the winner to get all of the specifics. All you have to do, my little birdies, is post the giveaway on your blog, tell them how amazeable my blog is (just kidding on that one), and leave me a comment on mine that you did so. For 2 extra entries, become a stalker, um, I mean follower of the Southern Domestic Goddess. As my Mama says, "You can't beat that with a stick!"

By the way, Wendy over at The Shabby Nest (http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/) is having her own giveaway from one of her sponsors (yes, she is fancy Nancy and has sponsors...she is FAB-U-LOUS!) Rosalynn at RHB Designs (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6021372). Roslynn creates gorgeous hand stamped jewelry and I am determined to get a little something for myself if I don't win. Sooooo, start a bloggin' ladies!

By the way, I think I will do a little shopping around my home to redo my mantle today. I will post pics tomorrow. Hey, maybe I will post some different options and let my adoring fans decide. Good luck y'all!!!

Beachy is just Peachy!

Just back from a trip to South Padre Island with the hubs and our eldest son. This trip confirmed my love for the beach and everything "beachy". I don't live anywhere remotely "beachy", but can't I just surround myself with the memories?

I think that you know that I (when I say "I", I mean, my house...we are one in the same apparently) am in trasition from old world/cottage/lots of dark reds and browns to beachy/cottage/traditional/lots of light blues and creams. Yes, it is quite a change. I am still in prep & planning (P&P) mode since P&P mode is virtually free...well, aside from the goodies I find here and there, and the delicious things that I purchased from my trip to Market. Well, now I am just dying to paint and make draperies. Okay, not really dying to do the actual painting, but dying to get it finished and see the end product. Now, I just need the funds to do so. In the meantime, I will just dream about the hours spent hunting shells (and crabs) and lying on the beach with pina colada in hand.

Oh, by the way, I am playing around with different backgrounds. Whaddaya think? Still trying to jazz up the banner...on my own...not going so well. Any tips from you craft bloggers?

Patience is a virtue my little chickadees

I am working on some changes for my blog, so please be patient with me. I am not a member of the Geek Squad, so know that it might take a little time. Banners, and backgrounds and buttons, OH MY!
Like my background? I think it is so SWEET! Not sure if it is staying, but it was free, so I can't complain.
If you sweet little birdies have any tips and tricks as to how you make your blogs look so fab, please fill me in (short of hiring someone...I'm not quite there yet).
THANKS!

Cheap is chic...or at least just darn cute!

Okay y'all, the party is over. I am still working on my first jug o'coffee, so bear with me. My normal witty banter isn't all that witty this morning.

Here are a few pics of the cupcakes from my 2 littlest chirren's birthday party.

Are these the cutest things ever? I got the monkeys in a coin-operated machine at the Dollar Tree, put them on a bed of grass icing and added some banana candies. Simple can be cute!

Here is the entire family.

I have more pictures of the cakes that I did for each little munchkin, but I can't get their names cropped off (have to be careful...lots of crazies surfing the net!). I will continue to work on it, but until then, use your imagination.

All in all, the key to a successful birthday party is sugar and balloons. Lots and lots of balloons. Balloons are cheap and kids are obsessed with them.

T. went to pick them up and said that he could just read the faces of all the kids and parents on the way out of the store. I kindly asked for the, oh, 3 dozen balloons to be bagged so they wouldn't get tangled, and they unkindly "forgot", so imagine my poor hubs walking out with 3ish dozen balloons flailing wildly in the wind. The kids were googly-eyed wondering how he wasn't floating away like the guy in "UP", and the parents were mentally cursing him because he had set a ridiculously high bar for balloon purchases in the future. Sorry folks!

Needless to say, after my sweet Memom untangled the entire mess (she has the patience of Job mind you), we had balloons in every nook and cranny of our kitchen and porch.

Looking back at each of my kids, I remember their birth, each birthday, small little victories like potty training (2 down, 1 to go), giving up their thumb-sucking or pacifier, and speaking their first words. I can't believe that my "baby" is almost 2. With each day, I realize more and more how true the saying, "It goes by fast" really is. Soak up those babies! Take in every moment and don't worry about the fact that your kitchen floor is sticky, or your dishes are piled up, or there is laundry waiting to be folded. They can all wait. Just go sit on the floor and wrestle with your kids, or color, or just tell them how much you love then. Everything else can simply....wait.

Before you know it, your kids will be 1...

Then 2...

Then 3...

One day I will even miss this little face...

It all started out with a weird smell...

Oh, Snap!

Sooo, I had a little accident. Well, I have to admit, it was kinda sorta an accident. Here is my story and I am sticking to it until I die:

I noticed that there was a weird malodorous smell coming from my laundry room (actually, you can call it a closet because I don't think a 6 x 6 area actually should count as a full-fledged "room", but that is neither here nor there...). So, industrious and burly as I am, I decided to move things around in my laundry nook. Although I found a couple of socks that had apparently jumped ship and hid behind the washer, and an entire colony of fuzz bunnies, I could not figure out that darn smell. In fact, now that I think about it, as soon as I started moving things around, it was gone. Weird...anywho, as I was moving back the washer, I heard a sound. I thought, "Houston, we have a problem." Although we had a couple of smallish tears in our ever-so-lovely 1994 vinyl floor, they were manageable, and didn't make me too crazy. Now, we had a gaping frisbee-sized window to our concrete. Oops! I can't say that I was sad really. In fact, I had to restrain myself from jumping for joy that I actually had a reason, a legitimate reason, to flex my handyman, um, handylady muscles! So, I bit the bullet. I decided to just start a rippin'. I popped up the quarter round and tore that sonofagun out of there. It felt so liberating! Once the demo was done, I looked around at my handiness and exclaimed, "Oh, crap (excuse the French), T is going to kill me...that or he will think I am the goddess of home repairs!"

Off to Lowe's I went and picked up this:

Vinyl, peel & stick wood flooring

I had been eyeballing it for months, and thought that it looked pretty nice (for the 98 cent per s/f price tag), and wanted to see it in an actual room. Well, here was my chance! I wasn't about to even attempt tile work on my own, and I was determined to get it done TODAY! So, off I went with 1 box of vinyl wood, 10 extra "planks", a scraper (to get all of that darn stubborn glue off of the tile) and a smile on my face. I am woman, hear me roar!

So, for the next 2 hours, I scraped, cut, peeled and stuck my way into pure bliss.

In progress...

Voila'! Ain't she puuuuurdy! Cost me less than $40!

By the way, totally random, but over at WalMart (Yes, I said WalMart. Where else could I have gone in Podunkville at 9:30 PM?), in the garden section, they have these amazing little lanterns in both black and COPPER! Yes, COPPER. Be still my heart! They look like these that you can find at Pottery Barn. They are $10 each. You read it right, $10 EACH for the small or the large, and the large is, well, pretty large!

They also had a big hurricane candle holder that had a black metal or COPPER base with a matching rim around the top. Again, $10! As my mama use to say, "You can't beat that with a stick!"

I think I have gone cocoNUTS!

Okay y'all. I am in undeniable, full-fledged party planning mode. With my 2 youngest little hatchlings celebrating their birthdays together this year (yeah, I am brilliant, I know...well, that or just plain lazy...I'll take brilliant), I had a really hard time with the invitations. C wanted a "hula girl" theme, and I have to admit, I have always wanted to host a luau. I don't know what it is...the tropical feeling, the leis, the coconut bras (scratch that, after 3 kids, there will be none of those), but I have always wanted to go to one or have one. Since I won't be heading to Hawaii anytime soon, I said, "here is my chance"!

Since I always make the invitations by hand (it's more about not being able to find EXACTLY what I want and it is usually done out of necessity, than just wanting to spend hours of time laboring and stressing about making sure that the ribbons aren't going to fray and that the paper is perfectly even...OCD at it's finest!)), I went on a quest to come up with a way to incorporate W into the mix. This was where I really had to think. Since I call him "monkey", this is what I came up with after hours of scouring scrapbook and party supply stores:

I know...they are so cute!

I cannot tell you how I agonized over these darn things. Didn't want it too girly, hence the yellow, green and brown & I wanted to make sure that incorporated the monkeys too. Isn't that paper ridiculous? I hadn't planned on adding the tag, but I had to find a way to use that little monkey.

Before you all think I am crazy, let me tell you that you aren't the first. I do agonize over the smallest details, and obsess over the birthday parties just a smidge, but it is one way that I can release my inner Martha without therapy. Party planning is my therapy.

Okay, gotta run! I have so much to do! (breathe, breathe, breathe...where's my paper bag?)

Finished project and one giddy little girl

I have finished one of my projects! The angels in heaven are singing and, yes, I think I just saw a pig fly by my window. Here 'tis y'all!

C's new "big girl bed"

Well, my precious little C turned the big "3" on the 19th and she got a "big girl bed" for her birthday. T and I sanded, stained, distressed and waxed our way into oblivion for 2 nights until the task was complete. We started out with an unfinished pine bed that we purchased for the rock bottom price of $100, and ended up with this. I sewed the big polka dotted pillow, the bedskirt and the duvet cover. C was so excited!

"Look, Mommy finished something...I am genuinely shocked...can't you tell?"

Night Night my little 3-year-old...(tear, tear, sniffle, blow)

I still can't believe the flash didn't wake her up. Sleeps like her Daddy!

I also went to "Market", thanks to my MIL, and picked up a few other little goodies. They are on order, so I have to look at the pictures and salivate until they arrive. I have until they get here to get my living room, dining room and kitchen painted. Wish me luck!

This is my most favorite place! I could have spent a million dollars there!

See those precious little chalkboards? One set for me, one set for some lucky dog at Christmas! Can't you just see a little "Merry Christmas" written on the front with some sprigs of greenery and a fun little plaid ribbon around the handle?

That sweet little bench will be in my faux-foyer. I don't acutally have a foyer because of the way my house is, but I figure that a few bruised legs and some tumbles over the bench is worth good design. (You can use that saying if you like...)

This little nugget is the piece de resistance! This glorious piece of mirrored deliciousness will be adorning my fireplace. I can hardle stand to look at it...it had me at "hello"!

Okay, this is just eye candy. I really, really, really, really, really, really wanted this amazing mirror, but it was by another dealer and I couldn't commit to the minimum purchase in order to bring this little slice of heaven home. My heart is still aching!

Well, I am on my way to the major decor overhaul. I'll keep y'all posted! Gotta run!