The Real Housewives of DIY with Holley from Lunges and Lashes

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">__________________</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am SO excited to have the wonderful Holley from <a href="http://lungesandlashes.blogspot.com/">Lunges and Lashes</a> doing this weeks Real Housewives post!! Holley has been a sweet friend since Jake and I got married and she is such an inspiration to me. Check out her <a href="http://lungesandlashes.blogspot.com/">blog</a> to see why. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So without further adieu...Holley!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">__________________</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is how I have made <b>MY</b> space mine during the "transition" time of temporary housing so many of us often find ourselves in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2oZGgg3zY4jiZDYrUjDbltz7n3bB4XeqtoQdyW2LugarbTWb5aqlddP0r7bEns-sSCf3tdjbX-BohZLB6Y0tbgmu243KkegjSfNQ96aSWLXls2vKYrB80IkiN7whp33ZvCsLEZrFYwU/s1600/Picture+267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2oZGgg3zY4jiZDYrUjDbltz7n3bB4XeqtoQdyW2LugarbTWb5aqlddP0r7bEns-sSCf3tdjbX-BohZLB6Y0tbgmu243KkegjSfNQ96aSWLXls2vKYrB80IkiN7whp33ZvCsLEZrFYwU/s320/Picture+267.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">When living in temporary housing accommodations, it can be really hard to feel like you surroundings reflect you and contain a feeling of your personality. This girl (Me!) has some major house fever when it comes to having our own space, decorating and organizing my home. I just can't wait!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffI8cWXOcEH0t3dLCDxuXUO9Cc2WUt7uJ95hy6NTAHumQ-1nZ9b90ZKBBJ1c8Xtja9EGqdbBor4XBTaAqJeY2rZ_r3Kf0iUAelI2Kz1FOxSFIGXMyvSZ0ozghBPR2-BnnK3qzZo6TPrc/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffI8cWXOcEH0t3dLCDxuXUO9Cc2WUt7uJ95hy6NTAHumQ-1nZ9b90ZKBBJ1c8Xtja9EGqdbBor4XBTaAqJeY2rZ_r3Kf0iUAelI2Kz1FOxSFIGXMyvSZ0ozghBPR2-BnnK3qzZo6TPrc/s320/IMG_0590.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">So living a college lifestyle can be hard when you know you are only somewhere temporarily and funds are tight already. I have held back from spending a lot of money on decorations or furniture knowing that our time here is short. I would so much rather wait and invest that money on pieces I <b>KNOW</b> will fit our future home's set-up instead of getting something now and regretting it. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">I have issues I know. Square dining table or a round one!?! So many questions!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">And who doesn't love our funky crazy furniture! Right?!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6YAjeQ8T5cjQCtFPZKzYhYesjj9EiNMp6tNjJLQhbX97FybyovIpNw31X-L4iOz2_hqvBx_29q25ERENe9uj37i3ctI4nQ_EAAfNVdpAtapQSz6-uhTd_tst-aTYKXIEZmXJdyAQNHg/s1600/IMG_0589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6YAjeQ8T5cjQCtFPZKzYhYesjj9EiNMp6tNjJLQhbX97FybyovIpNw31X-L4iOz2_hqvBx_29q25ERENe9uj37i3ctI4nQ_EAAfNVdpAtapQSz6-uhTd_tst-aTYKXIEZmXJdyAQNHg/s320/IMG_0589.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">I realize it's not that big of a deal but I have just decided to hold off on most things and just placed a few items around the house to give the house a little feel of us. We are lucky enough to live in a<b> BEAUTIFUL</b> older home so you don't need much to add to it's natural beauty. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-pstKuzPGn9N2-W4oNAg89FqWU131fsNtl-uQqhS9m33wU1Yuheqj34YRU0U5UVzuBE_bjDtUPLiSHpaLTzlCAMQ3sC7qst2sPlJ_DaRJSBkKRRjz3wUSAeoST_Qb7RgsT-H9AOIX-g/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-pstKuzPGn9N2-W4oNAg89FqWU131fsNtl-uQqhS9m33wU1Yuheqj34YRU0U5UVzuBE_bjDtUPLiSHpaLTzlCAMQ3sC7qst2sPlJ_DaRJSBkKRRjz3wUSAeoST_Qb7RgsT-H9AOIX-g/s320/IMG_0594.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">I am addicted to hardwood floors now. I have been spoiled. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Despite my commitment issues on decor and knowing my taste will probably totally change by the time we are in a house of our own... I did put a lot of work in putting 1 room together. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />A necessity for me, <b>A SALON</b>.</div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am a hairdresser and needed a little room to have my clients in! With a little work... well... maybe a little bit more work than that... and a small budget I was able to put together a great space!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKApn5w2MaHBYzNV3F2AolsYnaptHAXu9iGVERMUMZ3lwOhNlUcwPGQDQR0ZDYeeljD27aBo66Hs3YsQK7SwGw5s1Fu8gncUjR5gwpXUoqtVoM7FV51ekvfH-GfDc9g12o3_t68o8aJSY/s1600/IMG_0757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKApn5w2MaHBYzNV3F2AolsYnaptHAXu9iGVERMUMZ3lwOhNlUcwPGQDQR0ZDYeeljD27aBo66Hs3YsQK7SwGw5s1Fu8gncUjR5gwpXUoqtVoM7FV51ekvfH-GfDc9g12o3_t68o8aJSY/s320/IMG_0757.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The room was originally just a mud room that was an addition to the back of the house after the original construction. When we moved in the walls were off white and pretty dirty and had some terribly worn carpet.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we painted the walls a cheery blue color and ripped up the carpet and put in some cheap linoleum. Since this is <b>STILL</b> a temporary situation we wanted to keep the expenses low.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFbhsTF3KCQO-Bkkzdv5cKlLTgIhK0GGZuXBUZDOk075my0kcGdHbNtDYoWAZWl625uyng7diQye1rQ9ynYHhESuABRXXzMHNNqBKewQ3HsRGy-FCVdw98u9Mdgf0ZlJQeF4Hbz_b1Mw/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFbhsTF3KCQO-Bkkzdv5cKlLTgIhK0GGZuXBUZDOk075my0kcGdHbNtDYoWAZWl625uyng7diQye1rQ9ynYHhESuABRXXzMHNNqBKewQ3HsRGy-FCVdw98u9Mdgf0ZlJQeF4Hbz_b1Mw/s320/IMG_0587.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">I found this cute lime green retro chair online for $5! In the for sale photo it was pretty dirty but after a good scrub it was good as new! I couldn't turn down such a deal! Plus it was the perfect feel I was looking for.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also snagged a great magazine rack from IKEA for $10 and the mirror at Target for $10 as well. The Japanese lantern hanging from the ceiling was a souvenir from a trip to Hawaii. It turned out to be a great extra source of light and it was something I already owned!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0fCKDYV5iPLWPmT7RP1vvGnoijMmIen8nKCVU2dEx8kUSwnuQ0juF1zYlY-yXCJA3aYi5zm3-WjIjKZ2rTCV-Q-G5Mx8cZ1q8sCNixLJmOyAmRMv2U6SdLqbhfP-i3TwL71F9ent-TST/s1600/IMG_0741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0fCKDYV5iPLWPmT7RP1vvGnoijMmIen8nKCVU2dEx8kUSwnuQ0juF1zYlY-yXCJA3aYi5zm3-WjIjKZ2rTCV-Q-G5Mx8cZ1q8sCNixLJmOyAmRMv2U6SdLqbhfP-i3TwL71F9ent-TST/s320/IMG_0741.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">I found frames at the thrift store for $1 a piece and spray painted them yellow as my accent color to match the curtains that you can see in the next photo.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgK81oOSWm4LJeqCPY-qO6vpOKqMVoB7HdPFDQLjVGfbEfgvrpXnEB84vNmlxNwoBvs7fYaR9POaWWy3f2tBsstXq5-UW_y_XgYUPuE5F978E1BhcNfuJKyJokuUswDEerAiBBJ5YTN78/s1600/IMG_0744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgK81oOSWm4LJeqCPY-qO6vpOKqMVoB7HdPFDQLjVGfbEfgvrpXnEB84vNmlxNwoBvs7fYaR9POaWWy3f2tBsstXq5-UW_y_XgYUPuE5F978E1BhcNfuJKyJokuUswDEerAiBBJ5YTN78/s320/IMG_0744.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">The curtains were already here in the home so that was a score.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">I also found a little coat hanger at IKEA for $5 that I spray painted and use to hold all of my capes. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGw238zaC9pLTWl6DaHG5EppNm3jBbsKK6eSD4wUSQidebKnm8Or28A5KAfJ71KzEChDiy2dzYtJrRGOCG7GNfn0fpaNPTWVgcLK0yx8bvf_Mu24kvWMOZQf0xcWlg003N3mHQqq4ZF1d1/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGw238zaC9pLTWl6DaHG5EppNm3jBbsKK6eSD4wUSQidebKnm8Or28A5KAfJ71KzEChDiy2dzYtJrRGOCG7GNfn0fpaNPTWVgcLK0yx8bvf_Mu24kvWMOZQf0xcWlg003N3mHQqq4ZF1d1/s320/IMG_0745.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">A snagged a couple storage pieces from Ikea and Target and I had the room I needed!</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lots of little touches make a big improvement.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Including the little functional pieces I bought the price tag on this came in about $150 dollars. <b>TOTALLY</b> worth it in my book. I have used this space so much, and every time I am so glad i have it.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love having my <b>OWN</b> little space in my house that I feel represents my personality and welcomes my clients into my home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfi7ci2Gwp9EYO_dnmaWZ4wfIDaT_nqDPjq6BAYfiK60_1gi-EQeOjO1JiG4sYDK2Rfs7a4XsSbDWLjJMx2jivT2uW0wWxr2lJdr_2X3DQ6mw9ydBRAxe4dGQaEchiPdcCyuz5XjcyNxQL/s1600/IMG_0753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfi7ci2Gwp9EYO_dnmaWZ4wfIDaT_nqDPjq6BAYfiK60_1gi-EQeOjO1JiG4sYDK2Rfs7a4XsSbDWLjJMx2jivT2uW0wWxr2lJdr_2X3DQ6mw9ydBRAxe4dGQaEchiPdcCyuz5XjcyNxQL/s320/IMG_0753.JPG" width="240px" /></a><br />__________________</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love Holley's style? Leave a comment and let her know! :)</div>

The Real Housewives of DIY with Holley from Lunges and Lashes

__________________ I am SO excited to have the wonderful Holley from Lunges and Lashes  doing this weeks Real Housewives post!! Holley has b...

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Just call me Sandy

<div style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Sanding. We all got to do it at some point. </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><div align="center" style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">But who am I kidding...I actually really enjoy it!</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before we left for North Carolina I went on a power sanding marathon, sa<a href="http://tophomedesignz.blogspot.com/2011/05/some-new-ugly-duckies.html">nding my hutch, dresser,</a> and a changing table for a client. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And pathetic as it is, I was SUPER sore when I was done. </span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">So I thought that we should do a Sanding 101 post. </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Sanding isn't super difficult, but there are a few tricks that make it easier.</span></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sanding 101</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">The first thing you need to know when sanding is understanding the "grit" of sandpaper. G</span><span style="color: #5a5a5a;">rit is a reference to the number of abrasive particles per inch of sandpaper. The lower the grit the rougher the sandpaper and conversely, the higher the grit number the smoother the sandpaper.The grit you use depends on what you are trying to do.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #5a5a5a;">Here's a chart describing various grits/grades of sandpaper and their uses:</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5a5a5a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: Verdana;"></span></span></div><div align="center" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><br /><br /><center><table border="1" bordercolor="#CCCC99" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="398" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#CCCC99" colspan="2" height="16" width="100%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1576972133361331381&postID=331355911729634778" name="qcspaper"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Quick chart - Sandpaper</span></a></b></div></td></tr><tr><td height="14" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">30 grit</span></b></div></td><td height="46" rowspan="3" width="76%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">extremely coarse</div></td></tr><tr><td height="16" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">60 grit</span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td height="16" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">80 grit</span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td height="16" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">100 grit</span></b></div></td><td height="80" rowspan="3" width="76%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">recommended for general purpose, drywall patches, furniture re-finishing</div></td></tr><tr><td height="32" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">120 grit</span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td height="32" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">180 grit</span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td height="28" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">220 grit</span></b></div></td><td height="60" rowspan="3" width="76%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">recommended for general purpose, furniture</div></td></tr><tr><td height="16" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">240 grit</span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td height="16" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">320 grit</span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td height="28" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">400 grit</span></b></div></td><td height="56" rowspan="2" width="76%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">recommended for fine finishing, polishing, gilding</div></td></tr><tr><td height="28" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">600 grit</span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td height="16" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">800 grit</span></b></div></td><td height="48" rowspan="3" width="76%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">recommended for fine polishing, hand rubbed finishes and gilding</div></td></tr><tr><td height="16" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">1000 grit</span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td height="16" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">1200 grit</span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td height="28" width="24%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">1600 grit</span></b></div></td><td height="28" width="76%"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">extremely fine. Polishing, jewelry</div></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://www.artsparx.com/quickchart.html#qcspaper"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.artsparx.com/quickchart.html#qcspaper</span></a></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px;">I prefer a 60 grit for removing old stain/paint and a 220 grit for buffing.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><div style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><div style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #5a5a5a;">Once you have the sandpaper you need, make sure you've removed all existing hardware, screws etc from the furniture. Side note: It is SUPER frustrating to misplace screws, nuts, bolts, hardware etc. Make sure you put all hardware in some form of container. This is ESPECIALLY important if you are reusing the original hardware on an older piece.  Sometimes old hardware isn't produced anymore. SO DON"T LOSE IT!!</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #5a5a5a;">Now it's time to sand. Hopefully you've already decided if you want to stain or paint your furniture. If you are wanting to stain the piece, sanding is going to be a little more time consuming. </span><span style="color: #333333;">Staining is much more difficult than painting...it requires ALL the old stain to be removed. If you try to stain over existing stain, the new stain will be darker in the places where the two overlap, producing an uneven color.  </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">With painting, just the varnish needs to be sanded off before it is painted. You don't need to sand it down to the original wood.  And there are some new lines of paint that don't even require you to prime or prep your wood before painting. Seriously amazing!! (See <a href="http://www.anniesloan.com/acatalog/paints.html">Annie Sloans website</a> for more info) Another tip: I find it easiest to sand horizontal surfaces as opposed to vertical ones. I usually rotate the piece as I sand.</span></span></div></div><div style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">It should look something like this. </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">I did sand it down a little more after the picture but you get the idea. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZPpDunsjGK3OTBivYYZTWMyFhOc3qQpltV4zZSy1AL465_wnHTyPT9YNtRzX03_2KA7mD8tOLgIHQqy2FuL12qr3Li0yIaWgbigHAwG2i7zeS0lfzXwic4k36dzsPBmRySJTOtidvhM/s1600/DSC_1487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZPpDunsjGK3OTBivYYZTWMyFhOc3qQpltV4zZSy1AL465_wnHTyPT9YNtRzX03_2KA7mD8tOLgIHQqy2FuL12qr3Li0yIaWgbigHAwG2i7zeS0lfzXwic4k36dzsPBmRySJTOtidvhM/s640/DSC_1487.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="424" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You will periodically need to replace your sandpaper as you sand. My general rule is one piece will last you 1/3 of your project's size for large projects. Does that make sense? I'm not sure how to explain it better. </span></div></div></div><div style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Essentially, if your sandpaper looks like this</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba1piRWhjDgmPw96tGO5bnjWNyOVQju7nk08N9eNITu8IoJ2kjCmS6XvpsObiNKKg4UkxAegs_aQKpC-a_4BZR6gnITcAKSYFnGxcLhVwOvEFqq1ZP-8tilHkc82VBzP9rH6pqyTsWVI/s1600/DSC_1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba1piRWhjDgmPw96tGO5bnjWNyOVQju7nk08N9eNITu8IoJ2kjCmS6XvpsObiNKKg4UkxAegs_aQKpC-a_4BZR6gnITcAKSYFnGxcLhVwOvEFqq1ZP-8tilHkc82VBzP9rH6pqyTsWVI/s640/DSC_1509.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="424" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it's time to replace it.</span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For sanding detail work, an electric sander usually won't be able to get in all the nooks and crannies. This little guy is great for such situations. It's called a sanding block.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxFU2UxBUPa3DnHlIUfBXXLXgpfURr1umjqsf6Cg1NEr374A66sXSeUStkNUbgAPZqOwLxD4EWWdaG0-GPiVJPNe72ZrSlWxwveGqCB_GM4tVZMa_bBgVyfii4eajzUhgRA1hw7ph5Xk/s1600/sanding+block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxFU2UxBUPa3DnHlIUfBXXLXgpfURr1umjqsf6Cg1NEr374A66sXSeUStkNUbgAPZqOwLxD4EWWdaG0-GPiVJPNe72ZrSlWxwveGqCB_GM4tVZMa_bBgVyfii4eajzUhgRA1hw7ph5Xk/s200/sanding+block.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333;">They are about $6 at Home Depot.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div align="center" style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Finally, how to sand and look good doing it. </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><ol start="1" style="color: #5a5a5a;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"> Don't wear anything you don't want to get dirty. I prefer a hoodie and sweats. They do wonders for my backside. :)</span><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHd-oF5Eh-f8Q8vGqOoS0bGaESGDsC98RdmSg7G92yV8hBBQ_ziR9Upn28j2QGBrOTLQvhO65c5NLDC6dO_rYPrySC01eTLQvrMX1cyyUBvtTXwUOHnzJvhHTTVL_UT_VOUDbw4d82rg/s1600/DSC_1512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHd-oF5Eh-f8Q8vGqOoS0bGaESGDsC98RdmSg7G92yV8hBBQ_ziR9Upn28j2QGBrOTLQvhO65c5NLDC6dO_rYPrySC01eTLQvrMX1cyyUBvtTXwUOHnzJvhHTTVL_UT_VOUDbw4d82rg/s320/DSC_1512.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHd-oF5Eh-f8Q8vGqOoS0bGaESGDsC98RdmSg7G92yV8hBBQ_ziR9Upn28j2QGBrOTLQvhO65c5NLDC6dO_rYPrySC01eTLQvrMX1cyyUBvtTXwUOHnzJvhHTTVL_UT_VOUDbw4d82rg/s1600/DSC_1512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">2. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px;">Make sure you wear some kind of protective eye wear. Sunglasses work fine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px;">        3.It is helpful to wear a mask so that you don't choke on all the dust. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px;">But I usually do fine                      without one so it's your call.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px;">        4. Finally, it is SUPER helpful to either wear your hair pulled back or a bandanna etc.  Saw dust is actually really difficult to wash out of your hair, especially if your hair is thick.  </span></div><ol start="1" type="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></ol><div align="center" style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Now go get to work!! :)</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #5a5a5a; line-height: 24px;"></div>

Just call me Sandy

Sanding. We all got to do it at some point.  But who am I kidding...I actually really enjoy it! Before we left for North Carolina I went on ...

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Going to find my Tara

I love Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind. I've read it every year since I was in 9th grade. I love Scarlet O'Hara and Rhett Butler. (Our son Rhett, is partially named after the character. I also once had a fish named Mr. Rhett Butler.) I love the tenacity of the characters and the descriptions of southern life. I love how much Scarlet loves Tara, her home.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf4S5uiSvRmy9i1CmXe-oLv-W8m5uF9SQJFbi7F3jzIgDcfKva_xhffpJW_-xBvLn4BStg0t6zHRM_PZZf17F3azbsFeyQUhMVVUeE-20-tqUfTZUGC6djp2Fz2rESpzEabWss95Osmk/s1600/tara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf4S5uiSvRmy9i1CmXe-oLv-W8m5uF9SQJFbi7F3jzIgDcfKva_xhffpJW_-xBvLn4BStg0t6zHRM_PZZf17F3azbsFeyQUhMVVUeE-20-tqUfTZUGC6djp2Fz2rESpzEabWss95Osmk/s640/tara.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />We are flying to North Carolina tomorrow to explore and see if we want to move our little family so far away. I am so excited to go back south. I'm from Kentucky and I LOVE the greenness, the rolling hills, the gentle accents, the FOOD, the laid back "Come on in" southern hospitality.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Maybe I'll find my Tara while we're there. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Maybe it'll look like this,</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTJu4BED29u0zJq7pr0KKMWv9ES1c9uSghzEDZxEYqsxCjtIfdapgVy9iQoUAgsk1y2JT4eLDLIEHN5NKYInLilkeLoiKn02v-N5A_voa2tfUdPpAjHHHoSPhyphenhyphenFQDKdelIQ_PDbhGoRM/s1600/home2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTJu4BED29u0zJq7pr0KKMWv9ES1c9uSghzEDZxEYqsxCjtIfdapgVy9iQoUAgsk1y2JT4eLDLIEHN5NKYInLilkeLoiKn02v-N5A_voa2tfUdPpAjHHHoSPhyphenhyphenFQDKdelIQ_PDbhGoRM/s640/home2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">or like this.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FF9TTpNz7WldzZ8avJytE66HO0iVv3Wiv6wtOlLYu4njRxOXxeYMa1bkFiVp0_4jdjPu5Ti4iz5nApNfxmnZuuHILRw3UybjyQJiYqVZXaTSKpYyCpiN9auLp8MCv6JPVB2Odf6ak7c/s1600/home1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FF9TTpNz7WldzZ8avJytE66HO0iVv3Wiv6wtOlLYu4njRxOXxeYMa1bkFiVp0_4jdjPu5Ti4iz5nApNfxmnZuuHILRw3UybjyQJiYqVZXaTSKpYyCpiN9auLp8MCv6JPVB2Odf6ak7c/s640/home1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />And while I'm dreaming maybe I'll be standing on the front porch when Jake gets home in my hoop skirt that makes my waist look oh so tiny.

Going to find my Tara

I love Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind. I've read it every year since I was in 9th grade. I love Scarlet O'Hara and Rhett...

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No-Sew Placemat Throw Pillows

<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I might have a small obsession with throw pillows. I love them on beds, chairs, couches. I love how comfy they make a bed look. Waiting for you to dive into their softness for a good nights sleep. Hmmmm.....to bad bed time is still several hours away. </div>These are a few lovelies I found. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0_S5yn1cLuB7XqFgYbNwXP1Bpke4QwvNzpbOka4QPV62RcCvnltBgfvf11cRneWRJ6NXAFPTifnte9Vcf09qp0x_Bnuq1qhfFrQe2nqYBJyVuOrPXoqdkevsLKW2xISv2C1M4w7MXFw/s1600/pillow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0_S5yn1cLuB7XqFgYbNwXP1Bpke4QwvNzpbOka4QPV62RcCvnltBgfvf11cRneWRJ6NXAFPTifnte9Vcf09qp0x_Bnuq1qhfFrQe2nqYBJyVuOrPXoqdkevsLKW2xISv2C1M4w7MXFw/s640/pillow1.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/71838813/geometric-retro-green-yellow-duck-egg?ref=sr_gallery_21&ga_ref=auto&ga_search_query=decorative+throw+pillow&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyh5BUywRVMYuszjNQtRe1jMNwzmYutgmebU_V_yFAyXLlfHKHv5VOa_SRvoC7lqugtcrrClCZqOvSFm1_I7tnH_YLpJBReG61JTgMYykKzsbKmHtCqvmHToP4bNdqQs3n3d0NNg4Tsto/s1600/pillow4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyh5BUywRVMYuszjNQtRe1jMNwzmYutgmebU_V_yFAyXLlfHKHv5VOa_SRvoC7lqugtcrrClCZqOvSFm1_I7tnH_YLpJBReG61JTgMYykKzsbKmHtCqvmHToP4bNdqQs3n3d0NNg4Tsto/s320/pillow4.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60373375/decorative-designer-pillow-cover-ikat?ref=sr_gallery_34&ga_ref=auto&ga_search_query=decorative+throw+pillow&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade">source</a><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6liodF4m-2Z8h1ozwpHo5UAtHqig4e7wjQ8ubFdRUq6QJoWmCD9ICCuDLRz7j90hAgt69G8taIdd_zT2IKoAHW5-ExUgK7VUqZ9lU4_56x45tmLDfmAw3VvgUn7VLxkjWgl8yCU0Cjk/s1600/pillows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6liodF4m-2Z8h1ozwpHo5UAtHqig4e7wjQ8ubFdRUq6QJoWmCD9ICCuDLRz7j90hAgt69G8taIdd_zT2IKoAHW5-ExUgK7VUqZ9lU4_56x45tmLDfmAw3VvgUn7VLxkjWgl8yCU0Cjk/s320/pillows.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My husband edited these and deleted the link to Etsy with the source for these two and I can't find them again in all of Etsy's vastness..  My apologizes to whoever made them!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">So cute right?!</div><div style="text-align: left;">When Jake and I make our first million I don't know if I'd rather buy a ton of shoes or throw pillows...tough choice. But for now, these lovelies are out of my price range so I came up with a more affordable alternative.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>{ The No-Sew Placemat Throw Pillows }</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the tutorial.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What you'll need:</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>2 placemats per pillow</li><li>batting</li><li>fabric glue</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is one that I've made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I started with these dinner napkins that were my grandmother's. I love them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO-Bvk3D0Zlsr1Df41Jyk0jrDk1d3yJoKf3SliglK3xHMCcrVmpCTWyYKRR3Or4wqUQSvJ6kZBOdBsYf9vOvfVFpK-pGR8fRjbvLUdUomLpYSb6Zi91lf7UC5YFKbG28TJOURnaSAfwM/s1600/napkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO-Bvk3D0Zlsr1Df41Jyk0jrDk1d3yJoKf3SliglK3xHMCcrVmpCTWyYKRR3Or4wqUQSvJ6kZBOdBsYf9vOvfVFpK-pGR8fRjbvLUdUomLpYSb6Zi91lf7UC5YFKbG28TJOURnaSAfwM/s640/napkin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rWoFx2Tf2xYcz7T8CI-BZz_ARvGJ1cM_OzFIcXXojt0Bfj_QaprWTBO5p1j5aniCDVLSJl8ub7GUmWvH9HKqR-QW2woKihz3b9h6yry__6fMBqqzz6SLZSKwrQZaid3BfPypeQGvFE4/s1600/pillow_two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rWoFx2Tf2xYcz7T8CI-BZz_ARvGJ1cM_OzFIcXXojt0Bfj_QaprWTBO5p1j5aniCDVLSJl8ub7GUmWvH9HKqR-QW2woKihz3b9h6yry__6fMBqqzz6SLZSKwrQZaid3BfPypeQGvFE4/s640/pillow_two.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_IQn9Faf8Y4FNGufB0w-TSvXB6dhj_R8Kn-K4i6sz4Sle81rGeExhhFHpFGmKLXgT-Rt9xaT7-xjuuBKyyoq8hf6OGIB0PXuTQE8BZnQG0s1oFom8C7ajqa8hzDlLrNpAWOoV4gcmSQ/s1600/pillow_glue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_IQn9Faf8Y4FNGufB0w-TSvXB6dhj_R8Kn-K4i6sz4Sle81rGeExhhFHpFGmKLXgT-Rt9xaT7-xjuuBKyyoq8hf6OGIB0PXuTQE8BZnQG0s1oFom8C7ajqa8hzDlLrNpAWOoV4gcmSQ/s640/pillow_glue.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">Because I used napkins and not placemats I made an X in the middle to hold both sides of the napkin together. </li><li style="text-align: left;">If you are using placemats you can forgo the X in the middle.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Just apply glue to 3 sides of the placemat leaving one side unglued for the batting to go into. </li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5MhGjmWTVZB39PxUYsdAsoll4CzLZgOauaQ4Busy03gKF6Hrx2pgjUTx2jZjYDsiREIeCCtT-nOI3onkB8Kj7h4ewiEPayCfNlcgngwE9MTPhtUiUOb3X3pDMPQLRT6VY3L3R5UdI3Q/s1600/pillow_brush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5MhGjmWTVZB39PxUYsdAsoll4CzLZgOauaQ4Busy03gKF6Hrx2pgjUTx2jZjYDsiREIeCCtT-nOI3onkB8Kj7h4ewiEPayCfNlcgngwE9MTPhtUiUOb3X3pDMPQLRT6VY3L3R5UdI3Q/s640/pillow_brush.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">Once your glue is applied, spread it with a foam brush so that you don't get a glue line/mark on the finished product. </li><li style="text-align: left;">Let it dry for at least 45minutes. You don't want to try stuffing before the glue is dry, otherwise you'll split the glue seams.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Once the glue is dry, stuff the pillow with the batting. To ensure that your pillow maintains shape during use, knead the pillow periodically while stuffing it. This will help the batting lie as it will while your using it and help ensure you don't end up with a flat pillow. My rule is that if I can still pinch the opening so that it closes, I can put more batting in.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Once all the batting is in, glue the remaining side. Since the pillow is now stuffed, it will be harder to glue the edge without it popping open so lay a heavy object on the final side to help it stayed glue.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;">And tada! A throw pillow!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHlewRxLWh5uaBHGEvKd3pLAshS6zJle-W0BLjxbsj00a2JII5bjIohOg3VA3Hub-FjXYDbAT-V48jnm6eOTzNZo_bUQUibZv_OM9zLBu6-UAvG8svCiEpWWje2izzt81ZtRRTKivLEU/s1600/pillow_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHlewRxLWh5uaBHGEvKd3pLAshS6zJle-W0BLjxbsj00a2JII5bjIohOg3VA3Hub-FjXYDbAT-V48jnm6eOTzNZo_bUQUibZv_OM9zLBu6-UAvG8svCiEpWWje2izzt81ZtRRTKivLEU/s640/pillow_full.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fzWBfAwmCyPsk2YRl8Cv30OZjl7LdPwj_Hk1zCFzG-30uV_CMc8Wp-onWXQb0n0vVm3GDLUVyX3ACno3ECEjP2sokOhWYoMQpYP-R73enaBBCE83_43V-0DQGR5qHdStcGCRjvQ08L8/s1600/pillow_upclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fzWBfAwmCyPsk2YRl8Cv30OZjl7LdPwj_Hk1zCFzG-30uV_CMc8Wp-onWXQb0n0vVm3GDLUVyX3ACno3ECEjP2sokOhWYoMQpYP-R73enaBBCE83_43V-0DQGR5qHdStcGCRjvQ08L8/s640/pillow_upclose.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BY7ACm9bTCdxS8g0oygVpGXnMkoOxLwTfi-mETAyvLsvzYv-L_VAxnpwah1ejkW8adVdiHEJEzILoBmRDnHRNywoDIOOb5pPYrXJcGQOrAbibVu1cG_ymDnRK56zdpI4AYl51pLUZJM/s1600/DSC_1499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The whole projects takes about 15 minutes of work and 45 minutes of wait time. 1 hour total.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Most placemats cost about $3 a piece and batting is usually about $7 for a large pad which will stuff 2 or 3 pillows. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not too shabby!!<br /><br /></div>

No-Sew Placemat Throw Pillows

I might have a small obsession with throw pillows. I love them on beds, chairs, couches. I love how comfy they make a bed look. Waiting for ...

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I promise we're not rednecks.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you walk past our house, 9 times out of 10 we'll have a half finished piece of furniture on our front porch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I feel bad for our neighbors. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I try to be a responsible DIY'er and not sand too early or too late in the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I try not to paint when kids are getting out of school, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so I don't overwhelm them with paint fumes as they walk home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(And mom's you can stop giving me dirty looks if I'm painting...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't know of a more well ventilated place to paint.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But this is what happens when you don't have a garage. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvT_Ag44h4NtcwenLVBoOFIhC9KeVJ36mxnvjAxQyJqLOp5dtizywHhhwiLPp1gIOEQFiJKDiyad62IYyDmC8zw4-t36i1FfxOLBvvJV_JP0EFqSaUsc_WfmoHAVbkZAZ_tYTpy3yyYws/s1600/DSC_1480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvT_Ag44h4NtcwenLVBoOFIhC9KeVJ36mxnvjAxQyJqLOp5dtizywHhhwiLPp1gIOEQFiJKDiyad62IYyDmC8zw4-t36i1FfxOLBvvJV_JP0EFqSaUsc_WfmoHAVbkZAZ_tYTpy3yyYws/s640/DSC_1480.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There is saw dust over everything.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69jYTmu1TzJj4Zd48LTNf9ToPzkR7mb_LBJ875oxlFmXxG3AefYTH5ygpvRM5y_SGN2wUlVLTITrXPOXXEcK7v5W8jWzQkp4JpKhuyzEJE_A95t-jdDK0I7Fz7hrGuTQHuAk-pddr2bw/s1600/sawdust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69jYTmu1TzJj4Zd48LTNf9ToPzkR7mb_LBJ875oxlFmXxG3AefYTH5ygpvRM5y_SGN2wUlVLTITrXPOXXEcK7v5W8jWzQkp4JpKhuyzEJE_A95t-jdDK0I7Fz7hrGuTQHuAk-pddr2bw/s640/sawdust.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNLNL-HlELkdJwcS-ppqxt3AXK2Dej4VLJi9jLOTLAiKojCney5vd1M1ZYnxQgk5zeF3MMCHfZLLARdH0JJ7U9oMb2nB-jHiZn4rqBAOgVH3VE-ZoSI_4M9_h813df3MpanMZ1-DOpVg/s1600/DSC_1482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNLNL-HlELkdJwcS-ppqxt3AXK2Dej4VLJi9jLOTLAiKojCney5vd1M1ZYnxQgk5zeF3MMCHfZLLARdH0JJ7U9oMb2nB-jHiZn4rqBAOgVH3VE-ZoSI_4M9_h813df3MpanMZ1-DOpVg/s640/DSC_1482.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And maybe I accidentally painted our fence.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Graffiti isn't one of my talents.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeMWOjYtyOvcXhBWXufebdMVtphyu7_hRHnn2q1nxwL1M26H2fvAIKSuFw3YwNhXhyphenhyphent_YhuFkZSwrj3tp2lq_F0tjtgK5ITcSEJPcuT0dXVds2aG6ZEUy6l-3EN3-Ga8xcxjJ1QSYkNc/s1600/DSC_1488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeMWOjYtyOvcXhBWXufebdMVtphyu7_hRHnn2q1nxwL1M26H2fvAIKSuFw3YwNhXhyphenhyphent_YhuFkZSwrj3tp2lq_F0tjtgK5ITcSEJPcuT0dXVds2aG6ZEUy6l-3EN3-Ga8xcxjJ1QSYkNc/s640/DSC_1488.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> When you come to visit, don't trip on one of several power tools littering the porch.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_CgJYu7r9fv4XU0W0_tOVZ5UwdRaSi0R8GyYaQkWeFDKUsid6M9nLHlDc_81wHuEzDJrxN7MfmX3TQBzXfUpsL1n-IBsetZAoLlP1JHINXqUkUwzSnYQYgJRw4q4rhu3i4KYPpFNjX4/s1600/DSC_1485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_CgJYu7r9fv4XU0W0_tOVZ5UwdRaSi0R8GyYaQkWeFDKUsid6M9nLHlDc_81wHuEzDJrxN7MfmX3TQBzXfUpsL1n-IBsetZAoLlP1JHINXqUkUwzSnYQYgJRw4q4rhu3i4KYPpFNjX4/s640/DSC_1485.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And did you know, stroller cup holders also double as storage for furniture hardware?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytsnm2OF0_onGsYT_boDXpJyCpJCI6wzHiQVgdx6gNZt7MTcoRfrtt5_ux3lwbmWx80PojXnB1s-fJygghXPmueEEJs2VcQAGSSNC7_R4VDXVQheaLO1RmLWBEsJUlZCxrW3uHN5iays/s1600/DSC_1486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytsnm2OF0_onGsYT_boDXpJyCpJCI6wzHiQVgdx6gNZt7MTcoRfrtt5_ux3lwbmWx80PojXnB1s-fJygghXPmueEEJs2VcQAGSSNC7_R4VDXVQheaLO1RmLWBEsJUlZCxrW3uHN5iays/s640/DSC_1486.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">At least our neighborhood doesn't have a homeowner's association.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure if they would like us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I promise we're not rednecks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

I promise we're not rednecks.

If you walk past our house, 9 times out of 10 we'll have a half finished piece of furniture on our front porch. I feel bad for our neigh...

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The Real Housewives of DIY

<div style="text-align: center;">I want to start a new weekly guest post segment featuring YOU!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am often so impressed with the projects that you do and the ideas that you have and I want to feature them here. The idea is to show ideas that are budget friendly and not crazy difficult. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm calling these posts "The Real Housewives of DIY"...but without the drama of other certain "housewives" shows. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So without further adieu the first post from my wonderful friend <a href="http://jeffandjackiecrane.blogspot.com/">Jackie</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeAXCtqzOKZzh2LIE7c1kHyzNBU68uN6SFU3cp_C_vXToaJMMMg9HLcTHOmWWYARX1HSfZsqp8nV7yThuYMretGWaUdUeeuXLpTDbm_rmhQ0O2Vzx4grjLuV8G5_tX8a0D4kudEM04WU/s1600/jackie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeAXCtqzOKZzh2LIE7c1kHyzNBU68uN6SFU3cp_C_vXToaJMMMg9HLcTHOmWWYARX1HSfZsqp8nV7yThuYMretGWaUdUeeuXLpTDbm_rmhQ0O2Vzx4grjLuV8G5_tX8a0D4kudEM04WU/s640/jackie.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">Pretty soon, in 2 weeks, I will be an official "Stay at Home Mom." I capitalize it because it is a job title. I pretend to think that Sofia is going to take all her naps and let mom clean and start some projects. I know it's not going to happen, but a girl can dream right? I HOPE I can do <i>something</i> good with my time, rather than sit and watch Oprah while eating bon bons. (p.s. anyone else so depressed it's her <i><b>last</b></i>season...yeah, right when I'm finally home to watch it!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">I've looked around my house and asked myself "what could I take and make <i><b>better?</b></i>" Ummmm, a lot. So here is a picture of Sofia's little dresser. Maybe some cute knobs to add to it? (Did you notice the bottom knob broke off?? Oh wait, I cut that out of the picture on purpose. The knob is sitting there, on the top. See it?).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYm5Woe1qsuNzAcGt9w1IJ0QAcOtqJ1VBiIPMA8jcaSx2PwcNh6hThCiSftFRo3dKYDROQKt5AZ8gNZZYXPolzKx3V4xniKRrLvqONaTRvpoLDYNY4qM2KZBswskdhCvlN0JHvDceyC5Y/s1600/IMG_1821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d83028; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><br /><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYm5Woe1qsuNzAcGt9w1IJ0QAcOtqJ1VBiIPMA8jcaSx2PwcNh6hThCiSftFRo3dKYDROQKt5AZ8gNZZYXPolzKx3V4xniKRrLvqONaTRvpoLDYNY4qM2KZBswskdhCvlN0JHvDceyC5Y/s640/IMG_1821.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />I feel that I am pretty good at decorating my very <i>little</i> home.<b> I do what I can with what I have.</b>  So here are some pictures to show off, and prove that I do have a <i>little </i>bit of talent...(btw, my house is so dark and has lots of brown, so I really want to bring out the blue this summer).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0RGZVv3go41D4pyHXRsiVpPDMbpJxhFzuRscJxkMJkJpmhTtrQj8ffwalW02KcHiJ2JkrY_rV9ywjyvf3w8Ub8IVIIq2UNtR0e3Cua3eWc3ddsyUz-mC73oHLpNIHUUOR2iwaY5Jgyw/s1600/IMG_1816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d83028; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0RGZVv3go41D4pyHXRsiVpPDMbpJxhFzuRscJxkMJkJpmhTtrQj8ffwalW02KcHiJ2JkrY_rV9ywjyvf3w8Ub8IVIIq2UNtR0e3Cua3eWc3ddsyUz-mC73oHLpNIHUUOR2iwaY5Jgyw/s640/IMG_1816.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27gFKJxdXtUNieNOUCVxz8-Dajo9P2Sa3M8iZd-A2tqS4h7RmK_Ayb2iKmzKlFMc_RoOyaTmwZwBmni0lbkwEpODAe5mEXZn2p1nqPEcYzFCcS0jKsqLWchEtEjhuHSijkG_7goawd4E/s1600/IMG_1818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d83028; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27gFKJxdXtUNieNOUCVxz8-Dajo9P2Sa3M8iZd-A2tqS4h7RmK_Ayb2iKmzKlFMc_RoOyaTmwZwBmni0lbkwEpODAe5mEXZn2p1nqPEcYzFCcS0jKsqLWchEtEjhuHSijkG_7goawd4E/s640/IMG_1818.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDa3OwKtxABNpRjsQ5o4ULbeLZdaao1_TH2ClzqUUS_1sx3gKf-UlIk6HlkLdrXVjPTkW7KmaGEtkHjID8U_LMw59XQojg8OY7C-TJZshQ07BwoArCqZMe4B_W4-zdk-BKYlijoxzyNJU/s1600/IMG_1819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d83028; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDa3OwKtxABNpRjsQ5o4ULbeLZdaao1_TH2ClzqUUS_1sx3gKf-UlIk6HlkLdrXVjPTkW7KmaGEtkHjID8U_LMw59XQojg8OY7C-TJZshQ07BwoArCqZMe4B_W4-zdk-BKYlijoxzyNJU/s640/IMG_1819.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I'm thinking of adding blue toned pillows to my <b>brown</b> couch, and replacing my <b>brown</b> curtains with some other color. Suggestions??<br /><br />Another talent...I am also really, really good at dressing my daughter. (But I can't sew a button).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqE0hmLiM3CMBjfmN7wmPs9ly7t32_bjfI5puV_kMdA8-ptC9qYmuCaIm-nfQfV65UBG9rcGFZjzkgYleGmWMVoKtvEyFSrX_G9MdFDV3BL7ZJ8F4cGlmCaDg8eYUFo60cvhb0LvKB5o/s1600/jackie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqE0hmLiM3CMBjfmN7wmPs9ly7t32_bjfI5puV_kMdA8-ptC9qYmuCaIm-nfQfV65UBG9rcGFZjzkgYleGmWMVoKtvEyFSrX_G9MdFDV3BL7ZJ8F4cGlmCaDg8eYUFo60cvhb0LvKB5o/s640/jackie2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">(Isn't her little lady the cutest!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">Email me your projects/ideas for next week!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>

The Real Housewives of DIY

I want to start a new weekly guest post segment featuring YOU! I am often so impressed with the projects that you do and the ideas that you ...

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My Home this Morning (and a little announcement)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let's start with the little announcement first.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've had a lot of people tell me that they have furniture that just needs a little bit of love and they don't have the tools or time to work on it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So here's a possible solution. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you live in the Utah valley/ Salt Lake area, I would be more than happy to come and pick up your piece, paint it/stain it, whatever you want!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rates are listed under the tab at the top of the page and you can email me if you want to talk shop. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now on to something beautiful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The lovely <a href="http://jandjhavican.blogspot.com/">Jessica</a> emailed me some pictures she had found of absolutely <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">stunning</span></b> bathrooms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Is anyone else grateful to live in the 21st century and not have to use a latrine?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Hello. My name is Jessica and I am what you would call a timid DIY gal. When I say timid, I mean I do small (very small) projects that don’t require as much time and effort as say, restoring or giving beauty to an unwanted piece of furniture like our dear Julia. I can make simple party decorations, a hair bow board, and do silly quick crafts. However, since talking with Julia, my wheels have been turning and I just love how DIY projects can give your home a special touch that no one else has. Instead of a cookie cut piece of furniture, you have one that is uniquely you. This is why I’ve decided that this summer I am totally redoing my bedroom dresser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>This thing is massive! And the poor thing has been neglected, but lucky for my husband and me, we only paid $20 for it. $20 for a dresser that is wood (and heavy mind you), 4 feet tall, and almost 6 feet wide, we definitely got a steal!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>So this may very well be part one of two posts cause I’m turning this ugly beast into something grand. Can a dresser be grand? I guess there is only one way to find out!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But until then, I have been thinking about bathrooms. It’s not hard to do, I curse at the very small bathroom we currently have and think often of the day when I will have one that is 20x the size. Ok, maybe not 20 times, but definitely something a lot bigger! Two things I loved to do growing up was to dance and sing in my bathroom, but how can one do that when you stand in the middle of your tiny one with your arms outstretched and you touch each wall with your fingertips. I love me some dancing space! But you know what I also love, room to move! I can’t stand getting ready for bed in our bathroom with my husband at the same time, because we’re always bumping elbows and getting in each other’s way<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>so we just go in there one at a time, not to mention that my tub is not conducive for anyone over<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>5 ft. 5 in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>So my 5 ft. 10 in. frame feels so cramped in my bathtub that it’s not even a relaxing experience. Aren’t baths supposed to be relaxing?</div><div class="MsoNormal">So here is my must have checklist for my bathroom in no particular order because really, I want them all.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">  </span></span></span>Lots of counter space with his or her sinks</li><li style="text-align: left;">A lot of storage space that allows for easy organization</li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>A large jetted tub</li><li style="text-align: left;">A vanity (oh my word, can you imagine getting ready in front of one of these?!)</li><li style="text-align: left;">A large shower so that when I bend down to shave my legs, my butt doesn’t hit the cold tile. You know what I mean?</li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>BIG!!!</li></ul><br /><div class="MsoNormal">As I was browsing the good old internet I found some pictures of Master baths that I really liked bits and pieces of. I looked through a lot of pictures and still haven’t found one that is exactly what I want. I guess that means I will have to custom build one. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> So here are a few that caught my eye…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8q1ZfpjKae9n2sk2Gxzdu3264Gs8PcgAEqHphdpgt5lFAnMZnWMtXaJX68zdKQqnAFA97Jag3o3t826lT4D4peuNJWB6E5UWBitzy8x7QFD_RDT4SKClsSSz1Wo5ppSWKMwML_Bjap0/s1600/bathroom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8q1ZfpjKae9n2sk2Gxzdu3264Gs8PcgAEqHphdpgt5lFAnMZnWMtXaJX68zdKQqnAFA97Jag3o3t826lT4D4peuNJWB6E5UWBitzy8x7QFD_RDT4SKClsSSz1Wo5ppSWKMwML_Bjap0/s640/bathroom2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Let me just say first of all that the sink is not ideal for me (remember the lots of counter space)? I also am not a fan of beige/tan in my bathroom. Or at least that much of it…but don’t you just love the fireplace next to the built in tub? That just seems like the ultimate relaxing scene. I can imagine me in a nice bubbly tub listening to my yoga cd with the ambience of the fire crackling beside me. I wish I was there now. And if a fireplace isn’t desired (I don’t know why it wouldn’t be) you can always put some extra shelving in. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wxwQGpWySchjAnp-L79wPxqdOBl7wI31EUQnghos_rHsoq2dHDX0hdqmqTmsDvLZtKw-Eung9nyecvoWNd4wsH_Biz-E4IAO69SSsyIuUDXWhUK2vDLK-gS9fQBuKJVf8nC32k0XjcQ/s1600/bathroom5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wxwQGpWySchjAnp-L79wPxqdOBl7wI31EUQnghos_rHsoq2dHDX0hdqmqTmsDvLZtKw-Eung9nyecvoWNd4wsH_Biz-E4IAO69SSsyIuUDXWhUK2vDLK-gS9fQBuKJVf8nC32k0XjcQ/s640/bathroom5.jpg" width="640" /></a>I just think this is a prime example of using your space wisely. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwu0XY5P-Gz2Yjc6F7IkuCJpjivBJwVOMWBkZF9O5nCwY7VEmLtGLiU3E03-rBW5VopHVCBMMZEjZkXwfeLhPTguSqHRJR4v6sNfPG5z8jYZH7OtU3Bg0LO9O6kE0Me081l6xGeMGEsgo/s1600/bathroom6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwu0XY5P-Gz2Yjc6F7IkuCJpjivBJwVOMWBkZF9O5nCwY7VEmLtGLiU3E03-rBW5VopHVCBMMZEjZkXwfeLhPTguSqHRJR4v6sNfPG5z8jYZH7OtU3Bg0LO9O6kE0Me081l6xGeMGEsgo/s640/bathroom6.jpg" width="640" /></a>I’m still trying to decide if I want His/Her sinks next to each other like this or on opposite sides of the room like this one below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2KWqTLmMoXUC0Q6i92myiHvuPf56jGWq5NUEnIl0Q2jDdpBTgIKC1DlS4k_CXvQ1wVFDvR19FoZI8OY2Fng-wPzfPUsptt6AAr3e1AkQ-pqioEmNcjee5dO4Rx7uL3guTmY_P66U8ws/s1600/bathroom4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2KWqTLmMoXUC0Q6i92myiHvuPf56jGWq5NUEnIl0Q2jDdpBTgIKC1DlS4k_CXvQ1wVFDvR19FoZI8OY2Fng-wPzfPUsptt6AAr3e1AkQ-pqioEmNcjee5dO4Rx7uL3guTmY_P66U8ws/s640/bathroom4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezLOQOW2iuzBaxaRwS6j5cnSJ3NRwPRr801nTgEWAxmgycHCL2ZzyrVC6ub_RWtm4R5hV_s_2JLji34Cb4jofYSnganzl3mi5k4k6C3q9FYOd2bpomzvxAclKFHFqZ0NX40c1miINXaw/s1600/bathroom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>It doesn’t have as much counter space as I would like but it’s just so classy and beautiful. And I could also design something to add a little more counter space right? And I love the dark wood floors with the white cabinets! (I think this color scheme is my favorite, but my husband is not a fan. Sad.)</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">But if I can’t have separate cabinets and sinks, I like the idea of a vanity putting some kind of separation in-between like this one.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqv8_tLm41cgpaVj03XHVepbt2cN7QiJUoMcI0alBHHY4s7HNHWONsxSBFsaXT8bu1M6TXAKxvLj_bDaOiLRRtUyirVSeQP3Uo5nz0G7gCG8gq8soSWFihCQWhAIY7PnCRZNWPHDiMHA/s1600/bathroom3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqv8_tLm41cgpaVj03XHVepbt2cN7QiJUoMcI0alBHHY4s7HNHWONsxSBFsaXT8bu1M6TXAKxvLj_bDaOiLRRtUyirVSeQP3Uo5nz0G7gCG8gq8soSWFihCQWhAIY7PnCRZNWPHDiMHA/s640/bathroom3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">What do you think? Do you like just one long sink along one side of the bathroom or do you prefer two counters and sinks on separate ends? Also, do you like the more traditional style or modern? I personally like traditional with a little flair. I am not a fan of some of the modern stuff. Like this bathroom…</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezLOQOW2iuzBaxaRwS6j5cnSJ3NRwPRr801nTgEWAxmgycHCL2ZzyrVC6ub_RWtm4R5hV_s_2JLji34Cb4jofYSnganzl3mi5k4k6C3q9FYOd2bpomzvxAclKFHFqZ0NX40c1miINXaw/s1600/bathroom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezLOQOW2iuzBaxaRwS6j5cnSJ3NRwPRr801nTgEWAxmgycHCL2ZzyrVC6ub_RWtm4R5hV_s_2JLji34Cb4jofYSnganzl3mi5k4k6C3q9FYOd2bpomzvxAclKFHFqZ0NX40c1miINXaw/s640/bathroom1.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">What is that all about? But then again, futuristic things kind of freak me out so….</div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Thanks Jessica!! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Anyone up for a spa weekend? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Or have a pedestal tub I can soak in for a couple hours?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Email me pictures of any inspiring rooms you find this week and I post them next Monday!</div>

My Home this Morning (and a little announcement)

Let's start with the little announcement first. I've had a lot of people tell me that they have furniture that just needs a little b...

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So...stucco...

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QsVUPWZiC_aJRhj6u-Bf74Sy4ukWFZONO2H0pLuKxNpgNWskYDkVjxxvhN3c_A3s4FWzvfr0DNAb-3GbNNZpuhV5SyTD_amXInvT9LGIUcpyVAJzrEKjaifrOsaj4m7vOpq4s2vEtMA/s1600/DSC_1324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sorry for the lapse in posts! We are in Arizona for about a week scouting out places to live. Jake got a job with Edward Jones (Yay!!) and we've narrowed our "Potential Places to Live" list down to Arizona and North Carolina. <br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We really LOVE almost everything about AZ. Today as we were driving around the Gilbert/Mesa area we just felt so GOOD inside about living here. But the one hold up we have is all the stucco. (And the scorpions....talk about something giving you the heebie-jeebies.) </div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0eb5wShyphenhyphenJoMgXUbYS7c5g_NBDamJ6Q7PBChGgiFxGVnmMqTcbCe9ng8Qx6sBuZO3KUuIh1VFPlaOBelw5vXsKR5Sbci_jxMlYaak0XRtd5ZsC1ikpq3D6J5fDBZ6w6VW2D_B6bJuwCI/s1600/home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0eb5wShyphenhyphenJoMgXUbYS7c5g_NBDamJ6Q7PBChGgiFxGVnmMqTcbCe9ng8Qx6sBuZO3KUuIh1VFPlaOBelw5vXsKR5Sbci_jxMlYaak0XRtd5ZsC1ikpq3D6J5fDBZ6w6VW2D_B6bJuwCI/s640/home.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I just don't know if I can do the stucco house thing. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I just don't want people to look at our house and think "Remember the Alamo!" </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So....stucco...I'm not sure I can DIY myself out of this.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">----------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For all you Arizona people...is this something you get used to?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">----------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And just for cuteness sake here's Rhett and his first time in the pool.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jZn80k-730YdbA4JgRXWvt7yrMTlwJcD_tGMh85wJhLCvykwE1XBNwStOuvJBQJY1-7A5h-o5pmc_2IMA_lWJDM7URTqd2csJb2yXWGYGJgXU99JmhlA_Q-weAD6EI44HsgJP6ZSk4w/s1600/DSC_1327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jZn80k-730YdbA4JgRXWvt7yrMTlwJcD_tGMh85wJhLCvykwE1XBNwStOuvJBQJY1-7A5h-o5pmc_2IMA_lWJDM7URTqd2csJb2yXWGYGJgXU99JmhlA_Q-weAD6EI44HsgJP6ZSk4w/s640/DSC_1327.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sheer joy. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QsVUPWZiC_aJRhj6u-Bf74Sy4ukWFZONO2H0pLuKxNpgNWskYDkVjxxvhN3c_A3s4FWzvfr0DNAb-3GbNNZpuhV5SyTD_amXInvT9LGIUcpyVAJzrEKjaifrOsaj4m7vOpq4s2vEtMA/s640/DSC_1324.JPG" width="640px" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How many "brave points" do I get for posting a swimsuit picture of us and all of our pale glory?</div>

So...stucco...

Sorry for the lapse in posts! We are in Arizona for about a week scouting out places to live. Jake got a job with Edward Jones (Yay!!) and w...

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Some new ugly duckies

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> beautiful</span> hutch from DI.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pictures don't do it justice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was just too excited to wait till morning for good light.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrounWn2ob9au5iooq4RYp88O7y3YaSw_-vvV74A-kHJrEFkRfJatmvELSGefX6X0yUKccgNG-2uKZE8qkBn47Be2L9if9WxEoh50OEuv4gg0vTLDLXQCpFedSsyvwubg2K9MSZxVHOI/s1600/DSC_1259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrounWn2ob9au5iooq4RYp88O7y3YaSw_-vvV74A-kHJrEFkRfJatmvELSGefX6X0yUKccgNG-2uKZE8qkBn47Be2L9if9WxEoh50OEuv4gg0vTLDLXQCpFedSsyvwubg2K9MSZxVHOI/s400/DSC_1259.JPG" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNNQSihRs4RebAwe5cnGkImalNG_4QodKj551v5GZxLUEs_i_iBHvybuQrW8jZ_UbxMr7TY64Aqa42nbDdIWnoNthKTAIu1A0JgQ5faMd0lDwzAmmQ1cH2xssHQXQMyvyNiMlnxkivPQ/s1600/DSC_1256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNNQSihRs4RebAwe5cnGkImalNG_4QodKj551v5GZxLUEs_i_iBHvybuQrW8jZ_UbxMr7TY64Aqa42nbDdIWnoNthKTAIu1A0JgQ5faMd0lDwzAmmQ1cH2xssHQXQMyvyNiMlnxkivPQ/s400/DSC_1256.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They really have some gorgeous treasures.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3Jo4Cn_wJuazqt0d_yUvkwxsdS03XkrwYvfIlGue3namUiMzTj99iyyYuJRESPwvZ5VJkoC-firMQEDv7gH3UmmsjCXd3sPSn5tYxssBHumw_Iw73NAUjWV7o8KflTLajbmNHklFVGo/s1600/DSC_1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3Jo4Cn_wJuazqt0d_yUvkwxsdS03XkrwYvfIlGue3namUiMzTj99iyyYuJRESPwvZ5VJkoC-firMQEDv7gH3UmmsjCXd3sPSn5tYxssBHumw_Iw73NAUjWV7o8KflTLajbmNHklFVGo/s400/DSC_1257.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And probably the most AMAZING dresser I've ever seen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCzPD4mGDYRcY-mChCWHQK6Qdea3TTFeuj2h4AmbEuMAV4liTVuygxnajbS35sxXVZWXbQIhnbz9O5kdkF5_-bey2gBEXH-dFQZQfkg6aCyPz5sMSiP7HQCvJqMWHZ1xvEGH1aH5R0j8/s1600/DSC_1241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCzPD4mGDYRcY-mChCWHQK6Qdea3TTFeuj2h4AmbEuMAV4liTVuygxnajbS35sxXVZWXbQIhnbz9O5kdkF5_-bey2gBEXH-dFQZQfkg6aCyPz5sMSiP7HQCvJqMWHZ1xvEGH1aH5R0j8/s400/DSC_1241.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Detail anyone?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A50d-y6MSy5rYwMXhGVIDWKBk_tpTzTzrZnAlleGLM3cYDqpzryFyMCA-GRbutgPxmQ9annKIb6ibqhtlQBEuwzL4ZcMZCf1Zz7bbuLbh7rDtjJmElvIxbVG6byn_nQyqW_Bph2bbns/s1600/DSC_1250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A50d-y6MSy5rYwMXhGVIDWKBk_tpTzTzrZnAlleGLM3cYDqpzryFyMCA-GRbutgPxmQ9annKIb6ibqhtlQBEuwzL4ZcMZCf1Zz7bbuLbh7rDtjJmElvIxbVG6byn_nQyqW_Bph2bbns/s400/DSC_1250.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And hello hardware! </div><div style="text-align: center;">So beautiful it deserves a cat call. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe60qrqMfWmyjlT3NwlkqXZ4c0gmwlEW87xAKZBKA25TUf5nGryev67geOnB0Wp_CxbHCFL4nRLOZFxOlVEjh0Y2hDHgv-k06h3eq7CPQbA031yPMS4yyjI7xuffKeapGWmdFf_9co3ow/s1600/DSC_1254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe60qrqMfWmyjlT3NwlkqXZ4c0gmwlEW87xAKZBKA25TUf5nGryev67geOnB0Wp_CxbHCFL4nRLOZFxOlVEjh0Y2hDHgv-k06h3eq7CPQbA031yPMS4yyjI7xuffKeapGWmdFf_9co3ow/s400/DSC_1254.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> Both of these ugly duckies will start the transformation process when we get back from Arizona on Monday.</div><div style="text-align: center;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have some ideas on what I want to do with them...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">but do you have any suggestions</span>?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Also, if you want me to do a custom order on them let me know what you are thinking and we'll put together an estimate. :)</div>

Some new ugly duckies

A beautiful hutch from DI. The pictures don't do it justice.  I was just too excited to wait till morning for good light. They really ...

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