Dining Room Update

In March, I won this painting of pears from shopgoodwill.com. I paid right under $36 for it. I found this lamp for $4 at Diversity Thrift and already had the shade in my attic! I knew there was a reason I save all this stuff. The mercury glass vases are from HomeGoods and Marshalls.

I am considering doing a gallery wall around these pears. I have been  slowing collecting artwork for it.

For Sale Pottery Barn Kids

Now that Clyde is in a "big boy" room. I am getting rid of a lot of our nursery goods. I am selling the  below items. If you are interested, email me at astoakley@gmail.com. If you are not local to Richmond, invoices will come via paypal and shipping charges will be additional.

Pottery Barn Kids Matelasse (Blue Trim) Bumper and Crib Skirt. $10 each.

Pottery Barn Kids Canvas Toy Bin  $10

Pottery Barn Kids Baskets (3) & Diaper Caddy (2) with Green Plaid Liners. $10 per basket (includes liner).  3 BASKETS ALREADY SOLD. Diaper Caddies still available.

Polka Dot Down Pillow with Striped Tie Back $5

Laundry Hamper with crabs and turtles. Blue & Green Gingham. $5

Plaid Pillow $5

Green Leopard Valance (2) and Leopard Crib Skirt (Custom Made  from Javis Davis) - $10 per valance and $10 for crib skirt.

Clyde's New Space

Over the weekend, Clyde  transitioned from his crib to a twin bed. We also swapped Camille and Clyde's rooms. A week or so ago, we purchased twin beds from Walmart for Clyde. We don't have a play space in our  house so all the toys are kept in the kid's rooms. We decided that Clyde's new beds would work better in Camille's larger room and we could try to turn that room into also a great play space. It seems to have worked! As a recap here is Camille's room before.....



And now as Clyde's new room.....

The beds can bunk but with Clyde's "carefree nature" we felt it was better to leave them as twins for now. You may remember this post. They ended up being larger than we thought but it works well because Clyde has been sleeping in the bed against the far wall and it has a crib like feel.

Now to some other elements in the room. Last week, I shared my bookshelf find from the Salvation Army.
Here is the before....

Notice Clyde on the left. This was  probably right before he stepped in my primer!

Here is the bookshelf after....

The finish of the bookshelf was very smooth and I was not at all interested in sanding it. Thanks to a tip from Richmond Thrifter, I used Zinsser Bulls Eye 123 Primer which  can  be used  on smooth surfaces without sanding. Then I used two coats of paint from Home Depot. (I can't find my color swatch. Leave me a comment, if you are interested in the color).

I found this artwork at Diversity Thrift (love that place!) for $3. It was in a too small Ikea frame. I went to the attic and found a frame that I picked up over a year ago at a yard sale. I ran up to Ben Franklin and had them cut a mat and glass.  Why is framing so expensive? The double mat and glass was $70. I put it together myself because I wanted it right away.

Before

After

I also found this artwork already framed for $18 at Diversity Thrift.



I found all of Clyde's bedding at HomeGoods. The sheets are Tommy Hilfiger and are super soft for $14.99 a set. The curtains were from his old room and I found some of the throw pillows and lamp in our attic.  

While I was taking pictures for this post, Clyde was in the kitchen. He had moved the stool and gotten the flour off the middle shelf of our upper cabinets and as I walked in the room was  pouring the ENTIRE bag into this bowl. Camille was so excited when she saw it, she had to join in. You could say that was a huge mess.

I am still working on Camille's  new room. Posts to follow on that one.

Bookshelf Found!

Found this great bookshelf at the Salvation Army. I paid $80 which I felt was a little high but it was so perfect I couldn't leave it in the store. This weekend, we are moving Clyde into a "big boy" bed and switching Camille and Clyde's bedrooms. My house  looks like a bomb exploded. Clyde's new beds, bedspreads, sheets, mattresses and this shelf sitting in my living and dining rooms. I plan to paint the shelf and there is already one coat of primer on it. Stay tuned for before and afters of our room switch!

Front Door Update

It is complete! Well, almost....I still have a little touching up to do.

As a reminder, here is my inspiration photo. I searched online and decided on Cabana Green by Benjamin Moore. Turns out Home Depot can match Benjamin Moore paints if you know the name and/or number. So I ended up purchasing the paint at Home Depot.

Here is the Before...

Here is my door with some primer as well as two test colors (Cabana Green and Floradale Isle).

And here is the AFTER!

At first I wasn't too sure about the color but now I like it. We still hope to re-do the siding, get a new roof and a new 6 panel glass storm door but this will have to do for now. I may still get a window box or two.

Nothing too exciting on the menu this week. I am serving a couple of our favorites...Angela's Awesome Enchilada and Zucchini Wrapped Pork.

Brasso!

Sorry for the lack of posts this week...where did the time go?!

Last weekend, I cleaned the knobs on this chest with Brasso. It is one of the first things I bought for our house after Michael and I got married seven years ago. I found it at an estate sale and am not sure why I never tried shining the pulls. Look at the difference.

Before

Add caption

After

And speaking of getting married. This weekend is our 7 year anniversary! We hope to get out for dinner on Saturday night but are still deciding where. Suggestions welcome!

PS...I painted my front door. I need to do some more touching up but will post pics next week!

Menu Planner

We were in town this weekend and I am currently finishing up a few projects! Stay tuned as I post about them this week.

For now....here is this week's menu planner....

Monday: Sliced Steak Soft Taco Slider's w/Guaca-Salsa (from Rachel Ray Magazine, scanned below)

Tuesday: Gazpacho and Grilled Cheese

Wednesday: Parsley-and-Lemon Cod with Zucchini Salad (from Rachel Ray Magazine, scanned below)

Thursday: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

My tomato pie from last week did not turn out. It was so watery...does anyone have a good tomato pie recipe?

Mirror Mirror on the Wall!

I got this  mirror for FREE when a family friend was cleaning out her mother's house. Same place I got the plates and the dressing table stool. I wanted to paint it Youthful Coral since that didn't win out for the dressing table. But my designer sister steered me towards black which I do think was a good choice. She usually knows best.

Here is the before....

And the after....

Ignore the streak marks on the mirror and the hook above!

You may notice a few of my finds from Diversity Thrift and Class & Trash above on the tabletop.

Deal Found

I found these cute black shoes by Chinese Laundry at Marshalls for $10. I needed a black flat for summer so I was thrilled. They are a jelly material with a velvet bow. An unusual combination but it works for me!

Weekend Recap & Menu Planner

We had a great weekend at Sandbridge. Lots of time in the sun, great playtime with the cousins and a birthday celebration for my mother-in-law!

Camille & I made this  banner last week for the beach house 4th decorations!

Menu Planner.....

Tuesday: Summer Tomato Pie, Salad (I will probably cheat and buy a pie crust for the tomato pie).

Wednesday: Mexican Lasagne

Thursday: Summer Corn & White Bean Soup, Bar Grilled Cheese

Friday: Pork Chops Stuffed with Smoked Gouda and Bacon, Red Potatoes, Spinach