Monday, April 12, 2010

Monday FUNday!

It is beautiful outside today and I'm keeping this one short and sweet!

I wanted to share a wonderful decorating moment with everyone (you will no doubt see the joy on my face in the picture). This happened about a month ago - I'm behind, I know - in the glorious little town of Bel Air, MD with my second set of sisters Emily and Juliane. Jules was kind enough to take me to the best little antique shop EVER and I was truly in heaven! I diligently lurked up and down every isle in search of the perfect piece I had come to find - I had a picture in my head and I was NOT settling for anything less! A few minor allergy attacks from Emily later, and some cute, but not quite perfect finds, I came around the corner to Emily's shouts and down at the end of the isle is MY new tv stand (no I did not have a tv yet, but that is beside the point). I'm fairly certain I shrieked rather loudly and proceeded to sprint do
wn the isle to this glorious piece of furniture! Birds were chirping and a light was shining down like a spot light from the heavensabove, or was that an actual spotlight with a 60 watt bulb...who knows?

So folks here I am after the find...I think I scared Jules :)













A picture of the final product - complete with my new killer tv - to follow!

And now some before and after shots. I realllllly wanted some cute mismatch cottage-y chairs for my kitchen table. I definitely had to look beyond what was right in front of my eyes and attempt to see the potential in my options!

This was a hideous maroon chair with crusty fabric (yes it literally crackled when I ripped it off)!

BEFORE!
















































AFTER!!!






















































Don't you love it?! I do :) I am getting more mismatched styles and then paint them the same color! I'll post more soon.

Hopefully everyone is having an amazing day...if not, you are the only one with the power to change that!

*Peace, love, and lawn gnomes*
KB

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Happy St. Patrick’s Day...a couple days late!


I am not Irish, but in the spirit of little green leprechauns and four-leaf clovers I will be consuming a festive beverage or two this evening! I have taken a liking (thanks to the Olsen clan) to Guiness and cider, and I’m wondering if the cider will be green tonight because they certainly can’t turn Guiness green…or can they?


March has been a wonderful month thus far! Aside from the holiday cheer and the beautiful sunshine, I’m excited to see my favorite little sister tonight, B-Nip!!! She is done survived with finals this term and is stopping by on her way to a fabulous spring break in Europe (lucky duck)! She will be here less than 24 hours, maybe even less than 2 hours, but any moment spent with family is amazing and I’m really looking forward to it. Now that every member of our family is in a different time zone, it is such a delight to spend any time at all together. SP was just here for a meeting at the Pentagon and we definitely maximized our time together! It was awesome to have some dad-daughter bonding time and we did not waste a moment…basketball, running and shopping, oh my! Needless to say, I needed to rest after he was gone, the man is a machine and I don’t know how he does it.


I received the best package in the mail yesterday! First of all, it was completely unexpected, and secondly, it was full of old pictures of the family. Gramma Shirley sent a package full of photographs that she has held on to over the years, and, believe me, there were some doozies (including elementary school pics of SP and Piddy B. in her cheerleading uniform from high school)! I think I’m going to frame a couple in my apartment, they are just too wonderful not to display :)


Speaking of apartment therapy, I have some before and after pictures to share in my next post. A lovely chair for my “dining room” and a gorgeous frame I rescued from Goodwill. Also, I got a special delivery from Bel Air, MD…the awesome dresser/sideboard I purchased from the most amazing antique store (thanks to Juliane for hauling it all the way here from MD, and Warren and Emily for carting it up to Arlington and set-up assistance)! It looks great with my new tv on top!!!


Happy St. Patty’s day to everyone! Remember, if you see a rainbow today try to find the pot of gold because all the Leprechauns are drunk!


*Peace, love and lawn gnomes*

KB

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Let the games begin!

Much too much has happened since my measly little musings almost one year ago, oh how time flies!


I am now a landlocked mermaid living on the right coast – far far away from the ocean waves and shinning sun of Hawaii and the cloudy drizzle of Eugene. Graduation is a distant memory and I’m now a contributing member of society, taxes and all! It is truly hard to believe that my beautiful Hawaiian summer with Karmen (K.Wad, Waddles, Winkie, etc.) came to a close six months ago…despite my ever whitening skin and 600 down, water-resistant winter coat that swiftly transforms my girlish figure into a burnt marshmallow blob. The transition from care-free island girl to working diva has been interesting, and I’m sure I could spend the better half of the day (or week, let’s be honest this girl can talk) recounting the details of the last six months! I’ll spare us all the time, and drama, and get you up-to-date on my life as of late…


I’m finally on my own! Poi and I got an apartment in Arlington, VA very close to work and a swift cab or metro ride to the city. I LOVE it and I’m having a blast decorating and designing. There are three Goodwill stores within a mile of my place and I have become a familiar face - that’s a lie, they all know me by name ha. My Craigslist lurking skills are at an all-time high and I have managed to furnish the entire place (with the exception of my amazing pillow-top, memory foam mattress from Costco) from recycled furniture. Let me tell you, there were some serious diamonds in the rough! Poi is really enjoying being the “man” of the house and struts around like he’s king of the castle. I will say, he is rather tidy, he has taken to lining up his babies on his dog bed when they are not in use, perhaps my love of organization has finally rubbed off on the little mutt! We endured the ridiculous amount of snow by cuddling up on the couch reading – we were literally snowed in the house at one point – and stealing the tiniest of internet signals from a neighbor! Snowmaggedon did not defeat us.


Well ladies, they say diamonds are forever, but we all know from our years in Oregon that the sunshine is never guaranteed. That sounded better in my head, but I think you all catch my drift!


Work is great and I’m still enjoying every day, but it’s still work so it has no place here :)


I hope this will help me stay more connected to each of you, considering we still span beyond the continental US. I am determined to update consistently and I need inspiration for photography now that my favorite subject (Hbot of course) is all the way in “Zona.”


I have become quite the little design blog lurker and was inspired by some great sites to share the various ideas I’ve been implementing in my design process. I thought of posting designs and ideas after most of the furniture made the transition from drab to fab, but I will start from where I’m at and give a glimpse in to what I have spending my evenings and weekendsdoing. I am in a crafty mood and need some glorious subjects to share my creations with…ooo OOO!


Don’t fret, there are photos to follow and I will be updating with more pictures than text from now on! I really love and miss you all! I have a plenty of room and a hot pink couch (plus a lot of extra room in my luxurious bed) for any and all visitors. Call, email, comment, twitter, facebook or skype I am always available and in this day in age it actually takes more effort not to communicate than it does to find one of a bazillion way to do so!


*Peace, love and lawn gnomes*


KB


snow covered car!



































Poi dog enjoying "his" pink coach...

















I am obsessed with Mod Podge




































Sprucing up some the frames of Gramma's beautiful paintings!