TAKING A BREAK. . . AGAIN!!

Dear Friends:

So much has happened in the past month. . . our oldest daughter is now living in Texas finishing her Bachelor's of Nursing Degree with plans to continue on with her MBA. Our youngest is gearing up to finish the 9th grade - which is Junior High in our school district. She'll be starting High School in the fall. And boys, those pesky boys are now on her radar. They are calling her cell, texting her, walking her to classes, waiting at her locker. She's having fun. Me. . . I'm not sure I'm ready for all this with my baby girl. Where or where has time gone?

. . . and I am behind on about 5 million projects that I have on my "To-Do" list. So, I'm taking a break. I'll be back. . . someday. . . I think. When I began this blog it was for fun. Now it seems to be hanging over my head as another "To-Do!' - Take pictures, oh yeah, remember to take pictures of my before, not just after my projects are finished, etc., etc.!! Ever feel like that?

This is such an opportune time for me to bond with our youngest daughter and this past week has been amazing. She, being on the only child at home now, is opening up to me like never before. I don't want to be preoccupied with photographing things, thinking of needing to post again. And. . . I need to get my 5 millions things done.

I'll post when I can. Take photos of my projects (when I remember) and still try to check in with you all from time to time.

This weekend we are heading up to the cottage for some family of three bonding time. Oh heaven on earth if I do say so myself!

See you all soon,

Blessings. . . until next time,

BASEMENT SHOWER TILE UPDATE

REMEMBER THIS PROJECT? WE'LL PROGRESS IS BEING MADE THAT'S FOR SURE :)

Here is my honey, working, working, working on installing the cement board. I've been visibly missing from the blogging world. I hurt my back again (I'm OK now), but was unable to help my hubby as I had planned. Bless his heart, he did it all himself. No tile cutting, no blogging, not much of anything for me.

But, unfortunately, things can get messy BEFORE looking better! Here's the tile installing/cutting equipment on the bathroom floor.

Here hubs has begun cementing the tile to the wall.

Tile installed all the way to the ceiling now. . .

Tiling the shower seat/ledge.



Starting to lay the smaller tile sheets on the shower floor. . . and the larger tile cut down for the floor entrance ledge.

Now, we need to wait until the tile cement dries completely for a few days and then grout away.

I love the look of the shower tiled. I'm so glad that it's almost finished and behind us finally.

Now, we can begin to think about our next project(s) to tackle :)

Blessings. . . until next time,

I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT. . . SHORT AND STOUT. . .

Ok, so it's actually a coffeepot, not a teapot, but I love it just the same!

I've been wanting one of these. . . forever. . . but I sure wasn't willing to pay the high price being asked!
This fall, while at a garage sale, I found an Oneida Silver plated Coffeepot for $3. Now that's more like it! Then I put it away when I got home until I had a bit more time. Now was the time! I picked up a lamp-making kit $8, steel nipple and hex bolts packages (about $2 each) all at The Home Depot. The lamp shade I found recently at a trip to the thrift store for $1.99. (That's what prompted my memory of the coffeepot.)
I began by drilling out the top ornate piece on the coffeepot lid. You can do it ladies. Just go out to the garage. Head towards hub's tools, grab the drill, find a large drill bit, make sure the drill is in the F (forward) not R (reverse position) and GO!! Drill it from the underside of the lid and it'll pop right off!

Next, drill a hole for the cord to be fed through.

Secure the steel nipple with hex bolts. . . one on top and one underneath the lid. Easy Peasy!


Make sure the steel nipple is level then tighten down the hex bolts.



Start feeding the cord UP through the hole you drilled towards the bottom of the coffeepot.

Thread it through the top UNDERSIDE first, then feed it out the top.

SEE??

Now, just follow along with the instructions on the back of the lamp making package. The directions are extremely clear. I chose to add the harp neck, even though the lamp shade I used did not need a harp. I just like to plan ahead for the future. . . in case I change out my shade and the next one has a frame for a harp. It's easier to just add it now than having to take it apart to add it later. . . how do I know? Done it!

Add the socket pieces. . . according to the package directions.



Prepare your wiring. . . .secure the wire ends to the two screws on the socket. Confirm you have the ground wire going to the ground screw. All on the package directions ladies!


And you're DONE!! And it only cost around $17!


And now my new lamp has a permanent home. . . at our built in kitchen desk. . . and I'm Liking IT!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

Sher

MARSHALLS I LOVE YOU!!

While at Marshalls recently I came across this mirror. Large, beveled framed mirror on clearance for $11. $11 are you kidding me? Why was it $11? Some of the wooden frame was broken off, damaged at another corner and the paint had been badly scrapped. Not a problem for me. Home this baby came . . .out came the wood filler, sand paper and black paint. Re-done for nothing! I trimmed the detail out with silver Rub 'n Buff instead of the gold that accented this area prior.

It's perfect for this little hall in our basement. Right across from the bathroom. I had been looking for the perfect "something" for this spot. For $11, I found it!

Blessings. . . until next time,

"OUR" CURRENT PROJECT

Yup, it's time. Our basement bathroom has been waiting for the tiling to be installed in the shower. My hubs, also know as, Mr. Can Do Anything and I are now in the process of tackling this baby. It's a tedious project. Saturday hubs poured the cement over the rubber liner then had to make sure he pitched the concrete properly to flow towards the drain. I couldn't help him because we were having a few couples over that night to watch "Fireproof" (purchase or rent the video if you have not seen it ~ it's GREAT!) on the hub's big screen/wall. . . so I had cooking/baking/cleaning things to do.

Then hubs had to install cement board with concrete screws and patch and mud the seams. We are going to tile our shower all the way up to the ceiling and the little shelf/seat that hubs built in. Cool, huh? It's a BIG, HUGE tile job though and guess who's the tile cutter? Yup, ME! My hubs marks the tile, I cut it, my hubs lays it. We work like that. . . together. . .in our home, in our life and in our marriage :)

Blessings. . . until next time,

CHEAP ART!!

Cruising the Aisles at Walmart:

I needed something for one wall in our master bathroom. . . but I'm cheap :)
It needed to be of a substantial size too, but like I said, I'm cheap :)

While cruising the aisles of Walmart, I came across this awesome faux oil like-painting for $10. Now that's more like it! But, I thought it would look better framed, but again, I'm cheap :)

So, I found this frame on clearance for $3 because it was missing the glass. Perfect! I didn't want/need the glass anyways.

I used some left over foam-core board and some ribbon I purchased at Michael's after Christmas clearance for $.25 a spool. It's a Harlequin pattern and I loved it. I wasn't sure what I would use it for at the time, but I knew I had to have it.

Grabbed some black felt I keep on hand for backing my "creations" and went to work. I hot glued the picture to the foam core, then used the staple gun to staple it through both from the back for extra strength. (The picture has a wooden backing.) I then added ribbon around the picture and stapled on a length of ribbon to use as a "hanger." I then covered the entire back with black felt.

And there you have it. Cheap bathroom art for a total of $13! Now that's more like it :)

Blessings. . . until next time,

MASTER BEDROOM BATHROOM ~ COMPLETED!!

It's finally finished!!

. . .Way back in October this project began. I painted our master bathroom a lovely Benjamin Moore Aganthus Green, then went on to start painting our master bedroom. Remember my accident? I slipped, hurt my back, spent a little time in the hospital, then physical therapy, etc., etc., etc. Then the holidays hit; Thanksgiving, CHRISTmas, New Years. I've just now had a chance to finished up this room. A good winter project I thought. Cold, snow and staying inside and finishing up some things around here. I just finished the drapery topper on Thursday evening and hung it up. So, come with me for a little tour.

The above picture is entering our bathroom from the master bedroom. The clock was from from T.J. Maxx on clearance for $10, the Eiffel Tower lamp ~ a garage sale find for $5 this summer. I still need to spray paint the light switch cover and the toilet paper holder satin black, but that will have to wait until spring for warmer weather.



Rotate slightly to the left and you will see the Jacuzzi tub (with the towels hanging up that I embroidered on my little workhorse embroidery machine). The towel holder is simply two corbels, which I had my hubby cut a piece of PVC pipe to place in between. I must have had these corbels for almost 20 years, honestly. They have been used for everything you can image. Shelves, drapery rod holders, bookends and every color you can image too; mauve, green, gold. I sprayed painted it all black and made a towel rack for my tubby soaks. I also recovered the stool with black and white toile fabric. It was a garage sale find 8 years ago and has been painted and recovered a few times to fit in with my latest bathroom decor. There are three pillars the far one on the left is not in the picture. I purchased the three of them for $15 a few years ago at a garage sale and repainted them. The pictures above the towel holder are from Marshalls. The faux shrub/plants were 2 for $5 at a garage sale. They needed repainting, which I did. The little urn (soap keeper) was $4 at a garage sale.

Here is the drapery topper I completed Thursday evening. I used the same fabric and trim fabric that I used in our master bedroom. A mounting board makes a nice, neat looking treatment; my husband is always willing to cut a length of pine to my requirements. He knows how much money I save us by sewing our own draperies and I know how much he saves us by doing so many home projects himself. We compliment each other very well I guess :) and for that, we're blessed!!
Rotate a bit more to the left and the little room attached is the "Commode Room." Well, I'm not exactly sure what to call it ~ so it's our commode room LOL!! It contains the potty and a linen closet. The door can be closed for privacy :) Over the potty are two cute little glass floating shelves found for $1/each at a garage sale this fall. The metal bracket was white and I sprayed them black satin for a better fit. They look like they are just floating in the air. I really like them in this spot ~ not a heavy look at all.

Rotate left again and here is the sink/vanity area. I'm not completely done here. I have an idea. . . I purchased a router at a garage sale this fall and I'm going to use it to notch out the back of some molding I have which matches the cabinets. You know, notch out a spot in the back of the molding to accommodate those ugly mirror hangers? This molding will then be placed around the standard, builder mirror. Hopefully, it will work as I have planned out. . . in my head :) and it will give this a nice, custom finish.

Now, we're back out the door and into the master bedroom.

And, if you'll excuse me please. . . I think I'll go soak in my nice Jacuzzi tub and admire my hard work. Ahhh!! It's the little things that make me happy.

Blessings. . . until next time,

Just A Little Something!

I actually did this "little" project before CHRISTmas, but got so busy I forgot to blog about it :)

One day while finishing up my CHRISTmas shopping I was walking through Wal-Mart. . . I took a short cut through the sewing department (yes, I am blessed, our Wal-mart still has a fabric/sewing department, thankfully!) While taking this shortcut I noticed a little area of trim on clearance. This particular trim caught my eye and I stopped to examine it further. $1.00/yard on clearance??!! Hmmmm, may just be enough to trim out my dining room lamps. I bought the remainder of what was on the little bolt, finished my shopping and came home.

I measured it on the shades when I arrived home. Hmmm, again, may just be enough! Like just enough. Like the perfect amount!

Down to my basement Work Room I went (more on that later ~ this has been my personally declared - Organize your Work Room week - hopefully, I'll be able to move around a bit better when I'm finished organizing).

Out came the hot glue gun (always keep a bowl of iced water near by for instant relief to those finger burning accidents - which will occur! Gee, wonder how I know that?)

Not bad for a couple of bucks and a couple of minutes for my time.

Blessings. . . until next time,

A NEW FAUCET!!

Little changes here and there.

When we built our house eight years ago ~ there were sooo many choices to make. And so much money going out all at once too!! Some things we just took as standard from the builder and determined we would change them out at a later date. Well, later finally came!!

I love this faucet my husband installed for us!! We purchased it from Overstock.com. (No, I'm not getting anything for giving them a shout-out ~ LOL!! I just am not a brick and mortar store shopper and love on-line shopping.) My husband said this was an exceptional deal and the quality was just as exceptional as well.

The above photo is of our old, builder standard faucet that we had in the Powder Room for too long. Nice update, don't you think?

Blessings. . . until next time,

WHAT HAVE I BEEN UP TO??

Gee, I haven't blogged much lately, have I?

What have I been doing???? Cleaning, sorting, purging, rearranging, and DEFROSTING (among other things. . . will share more in the next few posts)!!



Oh yes, that dreaded job of defrosting the freezer in the garage. I remember when I purchased this freezer, they also had freezers that defrosted themselves, but NO. . . we didn't go that way. We read, and were told, that the auto defrost freezers are not the best to own because in order to defrost, the freezer must heat up to melt the ice; therefore, bringing the food out of the deep, deep freeze. Yeah, well, I still feel we made the best choice for us. I mean living here in Michigan, it gets plenty cold enough. But each year when I take on this huge task, I can't help but think . . . they do sell frost free freezers!



I just unload the freezer contents into laundry baskets (it's cold enough that everything stays deeply frozen in the gargage - I wait until it's like 12 degrees outside and then defrost that baby). I unplug the freezer, place my freezer thaw helper (found at a garage sale years ago for $1) into the freezer, leave the door open, remove the drain plug and away we go. I am in and out of the garage most of the day putting on my hat, coat, scarf, gloves and boots and then back off and so on and so on.

It takes the entire day, but oh it is so worth it when I open up that freezer now.

On a different topic, my sympathies go out to the Travolta family at the loss of their son, Jett. But I have a question? The Travolta's are Scientologist and so is Prescilla Presley, among many other Hollywood elite. So Prescilla Presley was being interviewed on Entertainment Tonight expressing her sympathy, saying how tragic Jett's death was, etc., etc., Scientologist believe that as soon as you die you enter into another body and are reborn or reincarinated into another human being. I'm just confused as to why Prescilla was wearing a cross around her neck. Is this just a piece of jewelry to these Hollywood Scientologist? If they believe they are reincarnated into another human being and not joined with our Father in heaven, made possible by his son, Jesus Christ dying on the Cross for our sins why do they wear a cross? Just a piece of jewelry to them I guess. Such a shame.

Blessings. . . until next time,