plum

paint in my hair

 
~ paint! ~

Fact: I'm so lazy that instead of changing into "painting clothes" I turn my current attire inside out.

Friends.  It's happening.  Miss Pippy's bedroom has been painted!  I'm three weeks into this God awful paint job {disclaimer: I'm the slowest, messiest painter EVER}, but this weekend I turned a corner.  Here's a breakdown:  closet - done.  trim - done.  ceiling - done.  walls - one more coat to go!   Then, there is of course touch-ups and finish work, but the worst is over.  In all my other non-painting waking moments I've purchased nearly every single great item on Etsy.  My biggest score - that vintage lucite bench with casters! 

yay me!

 

 

right now it's 12 degrees & windy

 

 

(here)

 

it's on.

~ inspiration room.  Eme wants blue walls. ~

...

Friends.  It's happening. 

I've finally parked my laziness at the door and picked up a paintbrush.  Miss Pippy's room revival is under way!  It's the new me for the new year.  It's what I like to lovingly call - getting shit done!

I knocked off most of her closet and built-in this weekend all the while using a power tool and caulk gun all. by. myself.  Yeah me!  Of course, I did walk away from the job with paint-splattered hair and more than a few drips on the wall, but whatevah!.

I hope to wrap-up painting this weekend {read: fat chance}.  What's a project without goals, right? 

In the meantime, since I've spent the last 3 years collecting pins and etsy favorites, I have more than enough ideas on accessories and even started purchasing a few things this week. I predict bedding will give me the most trouble {with window treatments a close 2nd} and see lots of online buys and returns in the very near future {read: Billy Webb loves to do my returns.  #teamwork}.

Here are a few things I have earmarked to purchase or have already purchased and you can check out more on my Eme pinterest board.

~ arrows, girls, flowers, bed, banner, cat ~

 

 

bathroom stall

Last we spoke, the sink was installed and we were wrapping up refurbishing a vintage built-in.  We're about the same place now as we were then.  Billy Webb took on a MONSTER side job building from scratch luvvy french doors.  As that mammoth project almost ends, I imagine he'll take a bit of a breather before picking up a screw-gun or hammer again, but when the time comes, I'll have all my decor at the ready!!!  These guys made the cut.

 

~ curtain, pressed leaves, bath mats, candle, planter ~

 

Winter To Do

 

More than New Year's Resolutions, it's a Winter Sanity List that I annually tic off.  Call it winter blues or seasonal depression or whatever, the bottom line is cold weather sucks.  I'm sorry but a fading sun at 4:00 and darkness by 5:00 is a form of torture.  To distract myself from winter blah, I try to keep busy with a list.  I'm embarrassed to say that  my to do list STILL includes finishing Eme's big kid room refurbish and now overhauling Max's space takes a spot {though he doesn't seem to mind the mattress/box spring on the floor...}.  But my winter list also includes something new: power tools. 

Jenny Komenda at Little Green Notebook is my decorating idol.  I love her eye and ideas.  Not all of us can install an absolutely breathtaking chevron floor with our own two hands {holy wow!}, but she's inspired me to take advantage of the entire workshop of tools in my own backyard.  I've been known to ask {annoy?} Billy Webb with various decorating requests and, understandably, he's not always keen.  My latest greatest plan is to upgrade our fireplace mantel and maybe install wall paneling.  No surprise, the mister doesn't share my enthusiasm, but you know what?  I'm smart.  I like to do stuff.  Why not just do it myself?!?  Brilliant, right?  

So, once our bathroom project wraps up, you'll find me behind a pair of goggles blasting a nail gun.  We all have our limits, it's true, so my maneuvering a table saw may not be smart, but a chopsaw...  Yeah, buddy! 

Do toolbelts come in chartreuse?  :)

 

 

 

Brass for the win

 

Who else loves it when a design plan comes together? 

To mix or not to mix.  This was my latest dilemma and contributing factor in my vanity hardware indecisiveness.  I've never been a fan of commingling metals, but all of a sudden I changed my mind.  Chrome towel fixtures and plumbing with brass lighting and hardware??  What if...

My decision did not come without counsel.  The twin and I agreed I would be the guinea pig {she's refurbishing a bathroom, too}, so I pulled the trigger on nothing but brass.  Once all my possible choices rolled in, I knew I done good.  I lurve how the shiny brass compliments the creamy dark grey paint.  But my light bulb moment actually came a few days earlier when I had painted the bathroom window and was forced to use one of Little Green Notebook's brilliant DIY's: the paint pen.  At the time, Billy Webb had declared his non-interest in removing and stripping the window hardware {curses!}, so I was left to my own resources and decided to try LGN's trick.  One quick trip to AC Moore and one gold paint pen later, eureka!  It work liked a charm and it was then that I declared my love of the gray/brass color combo. 

Won't she look so pretty with a finish coat of paint and all the necessary accessories?!?

 

In other news, how amazing is my Billy Webb?  If anyone in the tri-state area wants to pay $1,000,000 for a bathroom redo.  I'll pimp him out. 

Love you, dear!

 

 

play.

 

I talk often about my love of the outdoors and our family's philosophies of play.  Any family dedicated to being present and engaging their kids knows all to well those decisions don't come without sacrifice.  The biggest is time.  But with each passing day as my kids grow at warped speed, I realize those elusive minutes of relaxation time will never be missed. 

Childhood Unplugged is a genius new blog dedicated to all the splendid moments of play.  No batteries needed.  Simple and pure.  Not a wireless connection in sight.

I love this blog.

 

 

images from Childhood Unplugged.

See more amazing photographs at Childhood Unplugged.

 

 

 

 

Day 225

 

If you're following along, here's an update on our bathroom redo.

• the room was gutted {except for vintage built-in}, the tub moved, the plumbing also moved.
• new tub installed and in use.
• new shower tile installed {gorgeous!}, new tile floor installed {not a star, but fine}, the walls painted.
• new vanity made {the huzz is all kinds of awesome}, we agreed on paint!, the vanity painted, the vanity top ordered.
• *the vanity project has stalled due to my decision-making birth defect {this time hardware}, 100 possible drawer pulls ordered*
• the built-in has been revived and painted, the radiator cover made and painted {the huzz rules}, the window also painted.

 What's left {besides the vanity hardware :) }?

Lighting decisions, towel bar/toiletry hardware, accessories, baseboard, wall touch-ups and one little built-in shelf.

Friends, we are so close to completion it hurts.   When I say close, I mean we should be wrapping up right around Spring 2014.  We're more than half way there!

Little victories, folks.  Celebrate them when you can.

 

 

 

Fall Fashion

You guys, it's out of hand.  The amount of clothing my children have is obnoxious.  I spent Sunday clearing out most of our summer, outgrown and overworn pieces and was amazed by what was left.  Way, way, waaay too much.  It occurs to me that I've replaced my inability to buy expensive grown-up clothes with the ability to buy inexpensive children's clothes.  Oh my.  It's silly the number of things they have. 

Nonetheless, gee whiz do all these sale items look tempting....  :)

Here are a few things I've learned when dressing my daughter.

 

1. JCrew patterned leggings don't weather well.  Meaning, of all the cute leggings I buy {trust me, it's ALOT}, JCrew's fade the most at the knees and seat.  No more JCrew patterned leggings.
2. As cute as they are, bows and flower corsages don't look cute once they're washed.  They hit the washing/drying cycles and never quite look the same.  They're just little wrinkly, floppy messes and who's got the time or interest to iron kid clothes?
3. 3/4 sleeves under cold weather jackets are annoying.  Emerson can't stand the bunchy-ness that inevitably occurs when putting on her coat.  Can you blame her?  Only sweatshirts or sweaters with 3/4 sleeves {no jacket needed}.
4. Kids really don't need heavy sweaters.  Miss Pippy has a few cardigans, but schools are heated and jackets are donned, so really, barely a need for wool.  Bonus: no static hair.
5. Never, ever buy full price from Gap, Old Navy, JCrew or Land's End.  My favorite brands are ALWAYS having sales.  It's worth repeating, never pay full price.
6. Anything with sparkle is always a yes.

 

cardigan.cat T.Vans.tulle skirt.cargo leggings.striped tunic.pink cardigan.sequin sweatshirt.boots.ruffle neck top.colorblock pants.socks.jeans

 

  

next time, black.

 

I picked the wall color in a snap.  The vanity color was a snap too, until Billy Webb mentioned "anything but black".  Nuts!  Naturally that was my color of choice.  So, off to the paint store I went with my two giant paintchip wheels in hand.  ...5 colors later... I think we're close!  The natural sunlight in my bathroom really effects the appearance of the colors and they look totally different than I expected.  But, I'm fairly happy with one of the shades so it should only take 5 mores trips to the paint counter to be sure.  :)  I don't mind returning, though.  At my last visit a fellow shopper approached me as I stood and waited for the tiny jars to shake and asked, "are you a designer?". 

I skipped out of the store.

 

^^ the color swatches in this photo aren't as true as the previous photo ^^

^^ vanity by Billy Webb ^^  :)

 

love him!