Before and After Home Decorating and Hot Pink LOVE!

remember how I was painting this gorgeous pattern on my bedroom wall?  well, i want to show you the before and after.

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

yeah...i got off track, the pattern got crooked and i got psycho. i'm trying to talk the mister into painting over it and snapping a chalk line, i haven't totally given up because it looks SOOOOOO cool when it's done!!

 here's another before and after.

 my repurposed, repainted junk for my  wall...

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

yeah...another project that turn a hard right turn.  our living space is a "great room" (that in my opinion is NOT so great) and the "living" portion of the room is really not very big and this book case was crampin' my style, so i moved it. yep, me! i know it looks stupid in this picture but it's just made me realize i need a nice vertical piece of sumpin', sumpin' on the wall.... Ooooo, maybe pinterest has a good idea for me!! (you may notice my trim still is NOT up... the mister has been busy reading the entire "left behind" series and getting himself in shape. obviously, he is not overly concerned with my interior design dreams!).

 ok, now, here is my before mantel look and... oh, wait.... what's that?  patricia heaton ?  Oh, wait, not patricia...are those new chairs? new HOT PINK zebra print chairs? why, yes they are-thank you for noticing!!!!!!!!!

 ok, so how can i even get irritated at the mister for not putting up the trim when he lets us girls put HOT PINK ZEBRA CHAIRS in the living room!?!?!?!  you may (or may not) remember my last chair love that fell through. the orchid pink and tan chairs at tj maxx that i waited to go on sale and then missed out on.  well, when i saw these babies at marshalls last week i knew i better snag them because the orchid pink ones are gone, gone, gone... never to be seen again (except in someones yard sale in 5 years that i'll miss out on too).

 that tv stand needs moved so i can center these chairs, the mister is dreaming of an over-the-fireplace flat screen which may not be the loveliest idea, but again...he has PINK chairs in his living room, i'll cut him some slack!

 so now i'm collecting my pieces so this room can finally come together in all its funky, colorful glory...

i'm going to repaint the trim around my mirror, get new lights and pull this mantel together.  my beautiful orchid will prob. be dead by then, but for now i'm basking in its beauty!

for my interior design friends (and i KNOW you're reading!), feel free to give any tips or advice you'd like, except telling me i need to start wearing a bump-it and move to jersey with my hot pink zebra chairs!

❤Baby Hat Drive update tomorrow!!!❤

 it's NOT too late to get in on the donation! just hit the donate button above, every cent goes to hats/postage. only have $1 to give?  that's fine!! every dollar helps!

❤❤❤

Happy Tuesday

5 things i love, 5 things i hate

as you read this, i'm on a party bus to chicago for a girl's weekend of shoes, shopping, shows, cocktails, chit-chat, and other girly fun!!  since i'm writing this thursday night and the mister is concerned that i still am not packed.... i'm gonna go fast!

i love:

1. victoria's secret lipstick, $13, great colors

source

2. avocado's

source

3. these 2 (who should be in slot #1, but i've gotta pack!!)

4. it's been said before, but my love is deep and true, so let's say it again

WHITE RANGE ROVERS (yes, i yelled that!)

source

5. the children of China...i love these kids!!!

now the 5 things i can't stand:

1. red velvet cake... i don't get it.  isn't it just cake with a crap load of red food coloring?

2. dogs, don't be offended, i don't like mine either!

3. dancing, can't do it, won't do it (sober).

4. people who don't live and let live. we don't all agree, it's ok!

5. this outfit

i know it's awesome, but just not my thing... but, if you are interested email me, the pattern is available FREE on ravelry! 

ok, i'm off like a prom dress!

have a fabulous weekend and don't forget to check out the tab above for the hat drive. if you'd rather donate dough, hit the donate button on the top left... the one that says "donate" (i try to keep it easy).

Burning a hole in the ozone 1 spray paint can at a time...

Ok, here i am skiddin' in on 2 wheels... i promised i'd show you some on my spray paint goodness and... it's the 11th hour so here i am.

1st, junk waiting for paint!

2 little gold frames, now pink shabby chic goodness ready to go in the perfect little girls room!

(now in the the shop: chinamommy )

 set of 2 vintage shelves with perfectly aged mirrors!!

was ugly gold plastic (to the right of the pose doll in picture #1), now lovely lavender.

(soon to be in the shop)

Mmmmm, lovely brass chandelier from the late 80's, early 90's....

 now, ivory! 

 waiting for crystals and the hook up in my soon-to-be fancy laundry room!

In the shop NOW, teal wall shelf

no before picture, but it was gold...and it WAS ugly!!

again with the gold....

now with the orange and soon to be in the shop!

so, there ya go... a little of my sprayin' goodness!  we've had sunshine and low breezes here in MI, perfect spray painting weather!!

Michigan Fall, i love you!

ok, you know how i HATE the winter and that i am bitter because i didn't move to maui after college, but instead returned to the frozen tundra of michigan.  now that it is october, i've added the electric blanket, dug out my flannels and started planning for my hibernation, but what the what?!?! it has been GORGEOUS here in michigan, do you think she's trying to win me over?  for the past week and 1/2, it's been mid to upper 70's and full on hawaii sunshine!

michigan

(dear power lines, thank you for adding beauty to my shot)

 hawaii...see, hardly any difference AT ALL!

i have been enjoying it while i can

 ok, so i ran out of pink spray paint...see the red? guess what?! i can't find this spray paint anywhere and i'm thinking it is no longer available...

and by "enjoying" i mean burning a hole in the ozone with my spray paint!  come on back tomorrow and see what's going on with chinamommy!!

and don't forget the deadline for the hat drive is coming soon- october 31st!! 

see all information in the tab above or just donate a buck and check it off your list of things to do (donate button top, left-easy peasy paypal!)

Random Friday...

1. i'm sick....AGAIN! i think since i stay home and wash everything in bleach, my immune system has gone out.  the mister and our darling bring their germs home and then they attack my body and drop me for 2 weeks...ugh! i'm going to have to start licking the carts at walmart again.

2. i don't get this necklace

 i kinda think it looks like intestines in some medical journal... anyone else?

source

3. now let's move on to something CUTE, really cute!!  Vintage Fabric Bird Pillow! Yep, she "put a bird on it!"

found: HERE!

Bundles of Blossoms is now back on etsy!  

4. trust me, you're going to want to check this out, here's a tiny sneak peek...

my ugly dance HERE

5. another box FULL of hats came in last night (for the kids in China-see the tab at the top for ALL the info!). i would love to show you, but i am having major problems with my iphoto. no matter what i do, i can not get my photo's to download from the CF card... they did yesterday from 1 camera but not the other. today, no photo's will download...Grrr!!

6. they announced the winner of art prize here in Grand Rapids, MI

source: mlive.com/artprize

go see the article in the above link.

Congratulations to the winner, who lost her mothers hours before her win was announced; bittersweet for sure. 

7. my (real life) friend had a beautiful entry. of course, i wanted her to win. not only because the win would have given her the fame she craves, but also $250,000!!!!! (and maybe she'd have taken me to lunch?)

trust me, this picture does not do it justice and yes, i stole it from her blog

source: viewsbychris.blogspot.com

8. the sun is out and it is truly GLORIOUS here in michigan, i would LOVE to show you the pictures i took, but did i mention i can't get the pictures on that card to go into my computer?

9. how stinkin' CUTE is this dress?!

go HERE she'll make you one!!

love that pattern...yeah, just like the one i am hand painting on my master bedroom wall... do NOT even ask how that is going...

10. will someone please come over and make my front porch look like this Pottery Barn catalog?

source: Pottery Barn

ok, peeps, this mama is going back to the couch... have a fabulous weekend.

Free Happy Feelings

trust me, when you participate in this hat drive in ANY way, you WILL receive a free happy feeling!!

i just want to give you an update on our 2nd annual hat drive for the kids in China.  i received 2 packages of hats recently, 1 from south carolina and the other all the way from ireland!! and then an adorable little hat from a friend here in town.

this year the hats will be going to the kids at the Chengdu City Children's Welfare Center.

all (new) hats will be accepted, handmade or store bought- the kids don't care a bit and are sooooooo happy to have a nice warm hat of their very own!

Remember last years kiddo's?

 if you'd rather just donate some $$ feel free to do that at the top with the paypal button. even $1 helps!!

thank you so much to those that have already donated and for the rest of you...there is still time!!!!! i'm taking hats and donations until 10/31.  feel free to contact me at: chinamommy_04@yahoo.com if you have any questions.

DIY Mercury Glass, Pottery Barn Knock-Off

several months ago i was watching the nate berkus show.  a lady was on showing the wonders of this product..."krylon looking glass".  she was showing how to make faux mercury glass with old jars.  i knew right away i was going to need a can (or 12) of this stuff!  i went on the hunt but didn't find any until the other day when i saw it at hobby lobby.  it runs about $12 a can, so make sure you have your 40% off coupon. i had 3 glass squares full of rocks in one of our bathrooms... fancy, hun?  since i was not in away way impressed or attached to the jars of rocks i knew these had found their new purpose!

if you wanna give it a try, here is what you need:

krylon looking glass, glass jars (any kind of glass jars will do!), water in a spray bottle, paper to wrap the outside of your jars, and tape (to hold the paper on, duh!).

 get wrappin' so you don't get the outside all yucky. you want to spray this stuff on the opposite side of what you're going to see, so spray down inside.

 spritz with water (i didn't spritz enough) and then give your glass a light coat and let dry for 1 min. ★repeat this step 5 times.★

 make sure your trusty sidekick is tied to the picnic table so he doesn't chase the cats and make you scream like your white trash neighbor who was screaming at his kid all afternoon.  oh, you don't have a white trash neighbor? well, aren't you fancy?

 stand back and enjoy the (cheap) beauty of it all.  if you're like me, you will also stand back and realize you really didn't spritz with the water enough!  don't worry, this will NOT be my last project- watch for an entire house of mirrorifficness! shut up spell check, that is too a word!

also check out this cuties blog (she gave me the water spritzing tip!)

 fairytalefrosting

(the water gives it that spotted vintage look like the ones below from pottery barn)

you can also just shop pottery barn if you missed out on the DIY gene!

source

enjoy!

why, hello there!

contrary to what i thought friday, i did not die!  the mister spent a week in MT hunting elk, the only thing he came home with was one of his cabin mates cold.  guess who he shared it with?  i swear now that i am home, i am safe in my little bleachy world but whenever the mister or darling come home they bring germs that promptly attack my weak immune system! hack, hack-sneeze, sneeze! saturday i was able to sit upright, sunday i could cut fabric squares, sunday night i could crochet, and monday i did a little bit of stitching.  it's GOOD to be back!  i thought i would share with you what's on etsy now and available HERE: chinamommy

 oh and this guy.... the ink bled overnight-boo!!  NOT in the shop after all....i'm going to have to do a little more trial and error with the shrinky plastic!  dang, i loved this one!

and then something a little different....a double sided halloween pendant!

side 2

ok, i'm off to have coffee with a friend from high school!!  someone i don't think i've seen since...cough, cough....1987!!! 

(ps: hats are rolling in and it's not too late for you to join the hat drive!! see information above in the hat donation tab and come back tomorrow to see what's here so far!)