And the wall(paper) came tumbling down.

Ever since I first looked at our house, the wallpaper was NOT one of my favorite features. But my dear hubby assured me that we could rip it all down and he would paint every room in the house if I wanted. And even change the color if I didn’t like it in a room. (Yes, just A room gets a change!)

Anyway, now that we’ve lived here three months (or so), I finally took some wallpaper down with the encouragement and help of a sweet, experienced-with-old-house-wallpaper friend.

Daniel’s room went from this:

To this:

And it only took 3 or 4 hours of work! The paper came off quite easily (nice for a first project!) as all the previous layers had been completely removed – except behind the radiator. And there we found evidence of probably five previous wallpapers.

And just look at the gorgeous woodwork! I am amazed – and very excited – at how much more the woodwork stands out when the busy-ness of the wallpaper is gone! Especially since the all-original woodwork is one of my favorite things about this house!

Now I just have to decide what color to paint …

(I’m linking to DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land. Fun!)

Lights

A friend told me yesterday that he thinks I’m the only woman in the county who didn’t want a gazebo and got one with my house! It’s not that I don’t like the gazebo in our backyard, but it was never something I wished for – or even thought about, really.

But I like it. What’s not to like?

But THEN!

A friend of ours (same one as above) offered to loan us some of the LED lights he sells (go see at ImaginaryColours) to dress up our gazebo for the upcoming Christmas season. So we said, yes, please, thank you. (It took a little more discussion than that.)

And look at her now! (Ok, I never refer to inanimate objects as “her” but Miss Gazebo is too pretty to just say ‘it” now.)

If I didn’t think people would see me, I would sleep out there all winter! Oh, and if it wasn’t too cold. I should have done it last night since it only got down to 50 or so.

So what would you do with a beautifully lit gazebo? What should I do?

(I’m linking to Kimba’s DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land. Go see all the other beauties!)

The Birthday Boy

Here are a few pictures from the birthday celebration.

I am so thankful for a whole year with my sweet boy! And I pray God will teach me not to take a single smile, tear, giggle or diaper for granted.

(I am linking this to Tuesdays Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky.)

Sunshine

Sunshine.

Any sunshine, especially during this rainy week is a beautiful thing to celebrate.

The girls and I saw the sun rise (just minutes before it disappeared into the clouds for the day) on an early trip to the store Wednesday.

And I saw the morning sun shining on this fruit box in my kitchen.

I’m linking this to Beautiful Life Friday at The Inspired Room.

The new bench

We got an early Christmas present this month. Made by my dad to fit perfectly by our kitchen table. I could not be more excited! He had some great help carrying it inside and then the kids explored it in the entry way.

They seem to like it pretty well. The girls sit on it to eat almost every meal. Daniel will soon, I’m sure, as soon as I’m ready to have him out of the high chair which is wonderful restraint so he doesn’t hit the floor a hundred times a meal. Since he does that enough with his new walking anyway.

Solid, stable, painted and ready to be painted again when I pick a color for our kitchen. After I take down the wallpaper.

 

Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

Siblings.

I took this picture early this morning as these two sat quietly together and played … until I interrupted to take a picture.

My sweet, bouncing baby boy is walking! Here he is trying it out yesterday at the park.

Then Kate started dancing.

And Megan started sliding … and collecting static for her hair!

I hope you get a smile from these like I did! I also hope we get a few more warm days this fall.

DIY cupboard insert

Well. I did it. I fixed the cupboard under the sink in the kitchen. Here’s a look at the before:

This is AFTER the old beadboard insert fell out and apart!

I asked my super-cool, helpful brother-in-law (who builds churches!) what I should do and he said to get another piece of the beadboard (I did know that) and put it in with glazing points – like a picture frame.

After measuring I went to the hardware store where the helpful, patient guy showed me everything close to beadboard, but came up with nothing that would work for me or even get close to matching what I had!

Finally, he cut a scrap of 1/4 inch plywood to fit the hole and gave it to me. When I got home, it, of course, was 1/4 inch too long! I got out my utility knife, and realized I needed one of those long, metal, straight edges – which I don’t have. (Btw, I’d already discussed my lack of hand saw and palm sander with the hardware store guy. Thankfully he realized I didn’t want to buy all those things from him.) Here’s a look at what I used to cut the plywood down to size.

From L to R: metal computer case (straight edge), edge of plywood, old beadboard being held together with belt and staples, old utility knife with new blade.

Once I sanded the corners of the plywood so they were slightly rounded (the hole had rounded corners – why?), the plywood fit right in!

Functional. NOT attractive.

I considered several options to make this look nicer – stain, paint, scrapbook paper, wallpaper, stencils, fabric – and finally settled on fabric. I looked through my stash and found nothing. A quick trip to my local thrift shop yielded a couple pieces of fabric I thought might work. Here’s the first one I tried.

I was hoping the vertical stripes would "go" with the beadboard.

It didn’t really do anything for me, but was better than naked plywood. So I tried the other fabric which was actually someone’s unfinished embroidery.

It doesn't match the rug exactly, but doesn't clash either. Also, I have several rugs I use here - I love these cotton rugs and the ease of washing them!

Ok, I like that better than the stripes and way better than the plywood! But I’m still trying to decide if it looks like a “fun detail” or just silly!

Once I decided on this fabric, I taped it onto the plywood, and secured the plywood with glazing points on the back.

Here’s the bigger picture of the cupboards, sink and counter.

What dishes? *wink* Also, note that the rug and fabric chosen by me have a bit of a different color scheme than the soon-to-be-gone wallpaper!

Total cost was $1 for all the fabric – both pieces – and time. I already had the “straight edge” and utility knife, the plywood was free and I had glazing points from a framed puzzle several years ago.

So, what do you think?

(I’m linking this to DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land. Go see all the great projects!)

Frugal Fashionista Fashion Show!

Ok, maybe you know, or have guessed, that I’m frugal (or cheap) – and I like to get clothing used/thrift/secondhand. Especially children’s clothing since they grow and change sizes so fast! Or my clothing for that matter – pregnant, not, pregnant, not, pregnant, not – I’m not sure what my “real” size is anymore!

Apart from price, another reason to buy second hand is recycling, being green.

And really, I find several pair of jeans that fit well each year at thrift stores or garage sales – would I find more if I shopped at the mall? Do I need more?

Anyway, today is the Frugal Fashionista Fashion Show at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam hosted by the brave and beautiful Jen! And I’m linking up so you can see some of my more recent thrift store finds.

(BTW, Jen is beautiful – you’ll see – and brave since she REGULARLY posts pics of herself on her blog to help all of us out!)

Here are some pictures that I had to take myself  in order for me to be in the frame. I used my dresser to prop up the camera and a corner of the bedroom!

Disclaimer: I am not as fashionable as Jen. Just be warned.

If you click on the picture, you’ll get a closer look at each outfit as well as more description. Otherwise enjoy them like this and know that the total cost for all these pieces was $14!

A typical “Abbie” outfit!

Not that I have many occasions THIS dressy.

Small silk ruffles on the front – very sweet in person.

Couldn’t get the shawl right on this one!

This one is super forgiving of shape/pounds.

Add this jean jacket to tame down the froofy-ness!

This is what I’m actually wearing today!

So really, much of my wardrobe – except tennis shoes and underwear – is second hand! And the kids, a whole nother story – I rarely buy anything new for them because it lasts so short a time. I got the girls beautiful Christmas dresses at a garage sale this fall for $1 a piece! Great!

And no one would know. Except I just told you.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

(I’m linking up because this is an example of how We Are THAT Family … you know the ones!)

Maybe it’s because she’s two.

Maybe it’s because she’s a ham.

Maybe it’s because we should have named her Mary instead of Megan!

Here’s a recent conversation I had with her.

Meg: Mama, I’m still hungry.

Mama: Let’s go potty and have a snack.

Meg: No! Let’s go potty and have a snack.

Mama: OK. Good idea, Meg.

Procrastination over!

I did it. I “fixed” the bathroom to be usable AND pretty! Of course, the big trashcan and stool by the sink had to stay, but the view from the most-used seat in the house is much better now.

(My motivation came from Melissa at the The Inspired Room having a Procrastinator Party – go see what other’s did – or did not – get done!)

It went from this:

Before.

To this:

After!

And one of my favorite parts, the cost. The flowers were from a friend a few years back. The wooden box was from an auction (came with another one) for a dollar. The “vintage” napkin was 25 cents at a thrift store. And the metal, curly, thingy (Do you know what it is?) was something I found in the basement of our new (old) house!

What is it?