[Saturday Spotlight} Mudroom from hi sugarplum!

Hi friends!  Welcome back to Saturday Spotlight, where I share some of my fave spaces and projects from around the blogosphere.  Be prepared to be inspired, because today’s feature is a gorgeous hall-turned-mudroom from the talented Cassie at hi sugarplum!

Cassie took advantage of a much-used hallway in her home and transformed it into a functional drop-zone for her family with the addition of hooks to corral bags and backpacks and a wall rack for those last minute smaller items like hats and bugspray (a must in Texas!).

She infused the room with her great style and love of color to make the space not only functional, but beautiful as well.  Check out that striped door – isn’t it fantastic? 

She created the look of authentic Board & Batten with a faux Board & Batten wall treatment.  Amazing.  Let’s have one last peek, shall we?

Great job Cassie!

To see more of this and many other fabulous projects, go visit hi sugarplum and tell Cassie hello… I’ll warn you that you will become a loyal follower just as I have!

*** All images have been used with permission of hi sugarplum!  Please, please visit the original site to pin these images.  Thank you!

Goodbyes Are Not Forever

Today, our family will be saying goodbye to another precious grandparent.

While our earthly hearts grieve over the Lord calling her home, we rejoice in knowing that our Heavenly Father has much greater things in store for her in her eternal resting place.

We love you Millie ~ Until we meet again

Hello?

I’m sorry… but if you don’t think this is funny, well then, I can’t help you.

Anyway… things have been pretty quiet around here as I haven’t been my usual crafty self.  I was under the weather for a bit with some viral something and then the crazy pollen levels gave me a run for my money as well.  Add that to two little girls who are bursting with non-stop energy, a full-time job, a spouse that works every other weekend, a crazy time change (and all the other everyday crap that has to be accomplished to run a household) and you can probably figure out why the projects just ain’t crankin’ out like they usually do.

I’ve also found myself in a bit of a funk lately so quite a few evenings have been spent aimlessly perusing Pinterest, going to bed early, and watching way more Duck Dynasty than is probably normal.  I’m not sure what’s got my goat, to tell you the truth.  Maybe it’s that my body just needed some rest to recover from whatever had me down for the count.  Maybe it’s that I’m sick of budgets, money, saving, and analyzing every penny that I spend.  Maybe it’s that I’m tired of feeling like I can’t relate to a lot of the other moms I meet because I’m one of very few that actually work outside the home.  Maybe I’m tired of feeling like I can’t relate because they all have their moms and I don’t.  Maybe some days I really just want to be a daughter for a change, and I’m sad/angry/distraught that I can’t be that anymore.

*sigh*

I don’t know.  Whatever it is, it’s slowly getting better with rest, with some therapeutic runs, and with a little introspection and time in the Word.  Nothing like the Lord to put things in perspective.  (And a little painting doesn’t hurt either.)

x~o

Easter Ideas Roundup

Believe it or not, Easter is almost upon us!  I'm gonna be straight with you and tell you that I just took down my Valentine mantel this past weekend and got the Easter stuff down from the attic - isn't that pitiful?  In case you're just a tad bit behind like me and need some Easter inspiration, you've come to the right place.  Here are some great ideas, just for you...

Easter Chalkboard via Dear Lillie

Easter Table by Our Vintage Home Love

Bunny Napkin Folding by Taste of Home

Mason Jar Easter Bunny Nest via Dixie Delights

Robin Egg Marshmallow Tutorial

Sleepy Bunny Goody Sack from Probably Actually

Springtime Mantel from Foxhollow Cottage

So, whaddya think?  Are you inspired to get your Easter on??

Hop to it, then!  (Pun intended...)

Happy Friday - and Goodbye Google Reader?!

Hi loves - I've been a little under the weather this week due to my allergies and sinuses (Vertigo is the pits, let me tell ya.) and I'm starting to feel more myself so thought I'd pop in to say Happy Friday!  As always, there is a neverending list of things to get done in the few days I'm not working, but I'll be starting slowly so I don't wear myself out completely.  I'm planning on popping some tags tomorrow morning, finally getting some Easter decor up around here, and maybe playing with a little bit of paint?  Not too ambitious right?

In other news, did you see that Google Reader is being laid to rest as of July 1, 2013?  Nooooo!  I am a devoted Reader user, so this is not good news for me.  Any suggestions on new feed readers to use (hopefully that can import my list from Google)??  I appreciate your help!

Now go have a great Friday and BE AWESOME!!

Arles Yellow and Wood - Vanity Makeover

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, than you’ve already seen some sneak peeks of my latest furniture redo: the Arles Yellow and Wood Vanity that I redid for my sister.

This vanity started out a little rough around the edges due to the effects of time and weather.  The wood veneer was in decent shape, but some of it was chipped, bubbled, or had just plain been ripped off somewhere along the way.

I wanted to remove as little veneer as possible, so I just removed the badly damaged pieces on the top of the vanity, using a chipping tool and a hairdryer (the heat helps loosen the glue holding the veneer in place).  I hand sanded those areas as smooth as possible.  Next up was using wood filler to patch an area where a large piece of veneer was missing and gluing down veneer that had lifted at the edges.

Once repairs were done, I thoroughly cleaned the vanity prior to painting.  (I like using a dilution of Murphy’s Oil Soap.)  It took three coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Arles to get the coverage I wanted.  I hand distressed a couple of areas, then waxed with clear and dark wax. 

I originally intended on painting the drawer fronts, but the original hardware was attached with some type of bolt that I didn’t think I could successfully remove without ruining the veneer.  Since the veneer was in really great condition, I decided to leave it as is and just refresh it with an oil and vinegar mixture.

*sigh* They just don’t make hardware like this anymore…

I replaced the original small wooden knobs on the middle drawer with these great turquoise pulls I found at Hobby Lobby.  My sis is planning on putting this piece in a room with a yellow/gray/turquoise color theme so I thought they were a perfect fit.  (The inside of the drawer is painted Provence to match.)

I sort of love the yellow and wood together – it must have been divine furniture intervention that I couldn’t remove that hardware.

Thanks to my seester for trusting me with this piece and giving me creative license to do as I please!!

Linking up here:

Savvy Southern Style

Jennifer Rizzo

Tuesday's Treasures

Craftberry Bush

Design, Dining, and Diapers

Crafty, Scrappy, Happy

Miss Mustard Seed

Tatertots and Jello

Be Different Act Normal

I Heart Naptime

Transformation Thursday

The 36th Avenue

It's Overflowing

The Sunday Showcase

Trendy Tuesday

TwelveoEight

A Time to Shine

Pipe Cleaner Shamrock Garland

Remember when I said I don’t decorate for St. Patrick’s Day?  Well, never say never!  I put together this simple little Pipe Cleaner Shamrock Garland this weekend – it’s super quick and easy and adds just a wee bit ‘o green for the Irish holiday (spoken in me best Irish accent, laddy – HA!).

I made a quick video to teach you how to make the Pipe Cleaner Shamrock – it’s the first I’ve done, so enjoy (and don’t laugh! – it’s a little unnerving listening to your own voice, right?)

I made a simple garland with my shamrocks and a little twine (and hung them on the resident antlers, of course).  These would also make cute additions to a wreath, similar to the pipe cleaner hearts on my Valentine Ombre Wreath.  If you make some, be sure and send the link so I can see how you’ve used them in your décor!

Linking Up Here:

Be Different Act Normal

It’s Overflowing

Project Gallery

Howdy friends!  I'm excited about some of the things I've been working on and I can't wait to show you... I'm hoping to finalize some finishing touches and get some photos taken this weekend to share with you.  Until then, how about a peek at my newly organized Project Gallery?

I used a fantastic tool from InLinkz called the Link Manager to put this together and I soon wondered where it had been all my life!  Now you can easily browse past projects, from furniture to the crafty type - just click on my Projects tab in the navigation bar up there and have some fun!