tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11797449184633629282024-03-16T14:53:07.408-04:00Where Beauty Meets FunctionLiving well in a small home.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-3937242986041338772012-02-05T22:19:00.000-05:002012-02-05T22:19:42.044-05:00Back to the chalkboard<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to the drawing, er, chalkboard!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only am I obsessed with <a href="http://www.wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2012/01/gallery-walls.html">Gallery Walls</a>...I'm also obsessed with chalkboards!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It all started a long time ago, when I first saw Miss Mustard Seeds huge chalkboard.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SKQNuX-R4oU/Ty8_B2EGBKI/AAAAAAAACTA/EbCCYpdUyI4/s1600/Chalkboard-Beauty-Shot-1-519x6401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SKQNuX-R4oU/Ty8_B2EGBKI/AAAAAAAACTA/EbCCYpdUyI4/s400/Chalkboard-Beauty-Shot-1-519x6401.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love her style....I mean who doesn't!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I made a few chalkboards for my booth over the last few months, like these...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hd-Usa9kBJU/Ty8_iWCvTZI/AAAAAAAACTI/cyLRW2iKjAw/s1600/Plate+Chalkboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hd-Usa9kBJU/Ty8_iWCvTZI/AAAAAAAACTI/cyLRW2iKjAw/s320/Plate+Chalkboard.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GS84BeGtp6o/Ty9Ah2H6jxI/AAAAAAAACTQ/eLtWNk_R2jw/s1600/17943183116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GS84BeGtp6o/Ty9Ah2H6jxI/AAAAAAAACTQ/eLtWNk_R2jw/s1600/17943183116.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But want I really wanted a HUGE chalkboard just for ME! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when I saw this huge, ugly picture at Goodwill one day for half price, just $7, I knew I had found my chalkboard. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Excuse the awful glare, this is the only before photo I could find.)</span></i></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YVIAirOm7T4/Ty9CJox7xJI/AAAAAAAACTY/y9xIyXRswuA/s1600/Ugly+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YVIAirOm7T4/Ty9CJox7xJI/AAAAAAAACTY/y9xIyXRswuA/s400/Ugly+Before.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple coats of Salem Red Milk Paint, some distressing, and about 5 coats of chalkboard paint </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(painted directly onto the heavy cardboard type print) </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and wallah....an AWESOME large chalkboard for my kitchen!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-24OweiD4JmY/Ty9FgY65GfI/AAAAAAAACTg/zS_blhhWAUY/s1600/Kitchen+Chalkboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-24OweiD4JmY/Ty9FgY65GfI/AAAAAAAACTg/zS_blhhWAUY/s400/Kitchen+Chalkboard.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And what about that menu?? My kind of meal. LOL</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ASsfWdGEHX8/Ty9Fsly7WPI/AAAAAAAACTo/bo8Xl7gDt08/s1600/Chalkboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ASsfWdGEHX8/Ty9Fsly7WPI/AAAAAAAACTo/bo8Xl7gDt08/s400/Chalkboard.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BqdjXX46D_I/Ty9F7w4A9jI/AAAAAAAACT4/IMkcI99nMPQ/s1600/Kitchen+with+Chalkboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BqdjXX46D_I/Ty9F7w4A9jI/AAAAAAAACT4/IMkcI99nMPQ/s400/Kitchen+with+Chalkboard.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-24OweiD4JmY/Ty9FgY65GfI/AAAAAAAACTg/zS_blhhWAUY/s1600/Kitchen+Chalkboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-24OweiD4JmY/Ty9FgY65GfI/AAAAAAAACTg/zS_blhhWAUY/s400/Kitchen+Chalkboard.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, what do you think? Are you loving chalkboards as much as I am these days?</span><br />
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</span></div><img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-34490691335923285782012-01-22T12:40:00.000-05:002012-01-22T12:40:25.565-05:00Gallery Walls<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am completely obsessed with Gallery Walls! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been doing my own versions of the gallery wall since way before I realized they had a name or were 'cool'.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My hallways have always served as a gallery wall of family photos and such. And this house is no exception.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of you might remember forever ago that I posted the problem with </span><a href="http://www.wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2011/05/gallery-wall.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">my current gallery wall</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...it had the "highwater effect".</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WlzrUtuneKg/Txw0iXgVCYI/AAAAAAAACPI/eDV4i43j-PI/s1600/Entire+Wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WlzrUtuneKg/Txw0iXgVCYI/AAAAAAAACPI/eDV4i43j-PI/s400/Entire+Wall.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've taken the 'stuff' further down the wall now. I'm still on the fence as to whether it's low enough now or not, but it's working for now.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQsqj_WAts8/TxxGNOuLzDI/AAAAAAAACQo/9BffJO8wmrg/s1600/Hall+GW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQsqj_WAts8/TxxGNOuLzDI/AAAAAAAACQo/9BffJO8wmrg/s400/Hall+GW.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I'm moving on to creating a gallery wall in the living room!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I told you I'm obsessed with gallery walls! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Pinterest is only encouraging my obsession.</span> <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After lots of looking and searching and pinning...I have definitely learned that I am drawn to the eclectic type gallery walls. I like a hodge podge of items. Artwork mixed in with pictures and letters/numbers and plaques and whatever strikes your fancy. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong I love structured gallery walls too. Like these:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZpcxrFaLPs/Txw7B4zOgJI/AAAAAAAACPY/zY6l2VFhA6s/s1600/222717144041912976_08IiKPQr_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZpcxrFaLPs/Txw7B4zOgJI/AAAAAAAACPY/zY6l2VFhA6s/s400/222717144041912976_08IiKPQr_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://www.brooklynlimestone.com/2011/03/shore-files-gallery-wall-unveiled.html#.Txw7RG8S2Ah">Source</a></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dvu4nph0MqM/Txw7ojLdINI/AAAAAAAACPg/gIHr4oOBz60/s1600/52354414387903303_0gCWVUEM_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dvu4nph0MqM/Txw7ojLdINI/AAAAAAAACPg/gIHr4oOBz60/s400/52354414387903303_0gCWVUEM_c.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Source</span></i></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Then there's the pseudo-structured gallery walls. These have structure to them in the way they are displayed, but the items on the wall have variety. Like these:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRwEtOELrZ8/TxxBhvLtNUI/AAAAAAAACQg/WpSaUL1_KXM/s1600/189784571766763316_z7NRJvMc_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRwEtOELrZ8/TxxBhvLtNUI/AAAAAAAACQg/WpSaUL1_KXM/s320/189784571766763316_z7NRJvMc_c.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/04/its-done-and-we-heart-it/">Source</a></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1sgt56CS35w/Txw9A0dCOWI/AAAAAAAACPo/gKuJPC756WQ/s1600/165225880048755013_ArgW3LTp_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1sgt56CS35w/Txw9A0dCOWI/AAAAAAAACPo/gKuJPC756WQ/s320/165225880048755013_ArgW3LTp_c.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/source/alifeofwanderlust.tumblr.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><i>Source</i></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--wGYV4phGBM/Txw9iFox5SI/AAAAAAAACPw/kIygMQ8qS14/s1600/143059725632794089_zbMkSvib_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--wGYV4phGBM/Txw9iFox5SI/AAAAAAAACPw/kIygMQ8qS14/s320/143059725632794089_zbMkSvib_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://www.320sycamoreblog.com/">Source</a></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This one with all the paint by numbers makes my heart go pitter-patter! I LOVE vintage paint by numbers! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xJ7UEIM4oxw/Txw97Iw3jTI/AAAAAAAACP4/9vX17HH44CI/s1600/16044142392110162_N5NMQh1V_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xJ7UEIM4oxw/Txw97Iw3jTI/AAAAAAAACP4/9vX17HH44CI/s320/16044142392110162_N5NMQh1V_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Source Unknown</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">THEN.......</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">BE STILL MY HEART!!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">There's the ones that truly make me drool. Okay, maybe not literally. <strike>Not that I would admit too</strike>. But these are the ones I want in my own home. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTmHmF8D36o/Txw-7Fr2SqI/AAAAAAAACQA/nr_TwsggSoI/s1600/197384396137952627_0SKzkXrd_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTmHmF8D36o/Txw-7Fr2SqI/AAAAAAAACQA/nr_TwsggSoI/s400/197384396137952627_0SKzkXrd_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://pinkwallpaper.blogspot.com/"><i>Source</i></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01wM-MzyZ3g/Txw_TzL9lQI/AAAAAAAACQI/U0KMIWMznqM/s1600/83949980523559833_t8QcqN9y_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01wM-MzyZ3g/Txw_TzL9lQI/AAAAAAAACQI/U0KMIWMznqM/s400/83949980523559833_t8QcqN9y_c.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><i>Source Unknown</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n4tlZ326Mk8/Txw_pJxF0dI/AAAAAAAACQQ/iwBrtY3pFDI/s1600/198439927300614014_R7Z2O6AG_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n4tlZ326Mk8/Txw_pJxF0dI/AAAAAAAACQQ/iwBrtY3pFDI/s400/198439927300614014_R7Z2O6AG_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/enhancing-gallerystyle-art-wal-138191">Source</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SLA_U7r2UR0/TxxAw2VGuMI/AAAAAAAACQY/fnTzpotlgSQ/s1600/158681586840234609_omtgKcyP_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SLA_U7r2UR0/TxxAw2VGuMI/AAAAAAAACQY/fnTzpotlgSQ/s400/158681586840234609_omtgKcyP_c.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://blog.hgtv.com/design/2011/11/08/inspired-design-creating-a-gallery-wall/"><i>Source</i></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does it get anymore spectacular than these?!?! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are interested in following me on Pinterest so you can keep up with all the things that make me smile, laugh, or that is just plain adorable, beautiful, stunning, or whatever else smarks my interest, here is the link to follow me.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/wbmf/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" src="http://passets-cdn.pinterest.com/images/pinterest-button.png" /></a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-38931773376449197332012-01-10T14:37:00.000-05:002012-01-10T14:37:47.396-05:00Furniture Redo's<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Obviously I have been a very bad blogger the last six months. As you all know, my first semester of college had me swamped. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What you may or may not have known was that I was also very busy doing a whole lot of other things that I just never had time to sit down and blog about.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of those things was redoing some furniture. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sure you remember the dated entertainment center I redid last summer. From this:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yETfDzwXC10/TwyOfkIbrhI/AAAAAAAACLA/HiqyXG1_sg4/s1600/Entertainment+Center+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yETfDzwXC10/TwyOfkIbrhI/AAAAAAAACLA/HiqyXG1_sg4/s320/Entertainment+Center+Before.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To this:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m0uR_5sUzmE/TwyOpdkoXEI/AAAAAAAACLI/IxfF11dtSWY/s1600/15188668404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m0uR_5sUzmE/TwyOpdkoXEI/AAAAAAAACLI/IxfF11dtSWY/s320/15188668404.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The little table I bought for a $1.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vZSdia7W-dU/TwyOvPvQtZI/AAAAAAAACLQ/xpD5lIYnOWo/s1600/15801051907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vZSdia7W-dU/TwyOvPvQtZI/AAAAAAAACLQ/xpD5lIYnOWo/s320/15801051907.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To this:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yf8JVEUpKj0/TwyOzdRtfiI/AAAAAAAACLY/JLmAHdWTFT0/s1600/15800846178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yf8JVEUpKj0/TwyOzdRtfiI/AAAAAAAACLY/JLmAHdWTFT0/s320/15800846178.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But what I haven't shown you was </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a $5 chair I got from Goodwill last summer. I don't have a before picture. Not because I didn't take any, I know I did! But because until recently I used to jump between 3 different computers, making my organization AWFUL! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sure you can image what the chair looked like. Dated wood and super nasty navy blue fabric.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it was not gross anymore after I spent a few days working on her!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk0j-mQj9bg/TwyPDzFsjdI/AAAAAAAACLg/RCPZX9WcAVk/s1600/Zebra+Chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk0j-mQj9bg/TwyPDzFsjdI/AAAAAAAACLg/RCPZX9WcAVk/s400/Zebra+Chair.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I absolutely loved this chair! I've had it in my living for months before I finally sold it on Craigslist the other day for....$35!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IfnoanWOqXQ/TwyPWDQ7_ZI/AAAAAAAACLo/gKV8PGHa7b8/s1600/Zebra+Chair+with+pillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IfnoanWOqXQ/TwyPWDQ7_ZI/AAAAAAAACLo/gKV8PGHa7b8/s400/Zebra+Chair+with+pillow.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wish you could see the distressing...it was by far my best to date.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also redid this piano bench which I also bought at a garage sale for $1 last summer.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avtp0JCr05Y/TwyQWJiM3kI/AAAAAAAACLw/Z1NoQmL7olY/s1600/Bench+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avtp0JCr05Y/TwyQWJiM3kI/AAAAAAAACLw/Z1NoQmL7olY/s320/Bench+Before.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To this:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VofmFUHG3yY/TwyQhpnDssI/AAAAAAAACL4/QMzO4_huhgg/s1600/Burlap+Key+Stool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VofmFUHG3yY/TwyQhpnDssI/AAAAAAAACL4/QMzO4_huhgg/s400/Burlap+Key+Stool.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh yes my dear friends.....that is vintage key printed burlap!!! GORGEOUS! I got that at Joanne's with a coupon. It's a little more expensive than plain burlap, but not much, and definitely worth the little extra money.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the last one was the little footstool I picked up from another garage sale for $5.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fVy7virOmpE/TwyRmnTVWdI/AAAAAAAACMA/4ZsqgEb7Ong/s1600/Footstool+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fVy7virOmpE/TwyRmnTVWdI/AAAAAAAACMA/4ZsqgEb7Ong/s320/Footstool+Before.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To this:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OXTKdBul5Ig/TwyRsYd3whI/AAAAAAAACMI/39MmPzzbJb0/s1600/Key+footstool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OXTKdBul5Ig/TwyRsYd3whI/AAAAAAAACMI/39MmPzzbJb0/s320/Key+footstool.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I actually stenciled this key onto a swatch of drop cloth. I got the image from <a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/">Graphics Fairy</a>. Then I used my Cricut to cut out a stencil from cardstock and used fabric paint and a foam stencil brush to apply the paint. It worked like a charm.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a few things I did in late summer/early fall. :) </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-30654232668634894772012-01-06T09:00:00.000-05:002012-01-06T09:00:01.870-05:00Jack Jumped Over the Candlestick(s)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My latest obsession is candlesticks! Or pillar holders...or candle holders...whatever you choose to call them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want a whole bunch of big ones, various sizes and shapes, painted black, in the middle of my kitchen table. I can remember not so long ago, there were always candle holders to be found at the thrift stores (you know...when I never had a desire to buy them). </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now....not so much! </span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why is there a sudden rush on cheap, ugly, fairly large candlesticks?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I blame Pottery Barn! ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOSJTJ46co0/TwW4FDNj9eI/AAAAAAAACIo/UZMXJV02nLU/s1600/Candle+Holders+PB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOSJTJ46co0/TwW4FDNj9eI/AAAAAAAACIo/UZMXJV02nLU/s320/Candle+Holders+PB.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/acanthus-wooden-pillar-holders/?pkey=ccandleholders">Image</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mean, why pay $19-$49 from them to get this look, when you can paint old ones for next to nothing!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But....it's hindering <b><u>MY</u></b> ability to get candle holders cheaply.....and really, that's all that matters. ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And to buy new ones....WOWZERS! They are a minimum of $10 a pop! A little steep for me, especially considering how many I dream of owning. :) </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But ever so slowly, I am adding to my collection...$2 to $3 at a time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tS63qhetWeA/TwW5FNF41jI/AAAAAAAACI0/_wbZwo33ywE/s1600/Candle+Holders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tS63qhetWeA/TwW5FNF41jI/AAAAAAAACI0/_wbZwo33ywE/s320/Candle+Holders.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The uglier the better. I just hit them with some Valspar black spray paint and voila...I have various sized and shaped candle holders of my liking.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have distressed one with some Rub N Buff, but mostly I just kept them solid black.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sidenote...Speaking of Valspar spray paint. It is not usually my first choice when it comes to spray paint. But have you seen their new spray nozzles?? FABULOUS!!!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other problem? I get so torn!!! Do I keep them all just for me?? Or do I take some to the booth? :( You know, I <u><b>WANT</b></u> to keep them all. BUT...I also love my booth "followers" and want to share my new obsession. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, the life of a collector (and seller)! ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, what did I do?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I kept three and took one of course. LOL </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think I'm comfortable with that ratio. Now, if I can only find more. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also have been making some decorative candles.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uwgqy3AjZvw/TwW7eWlXz-I/AAAAAAAACJA/tXcafWf-0Pg/s1600/Candle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uwgqy3AjZvw/TwW7eWlXz-I/AAAAAAAACJA/tXcafWf-0Pg/s320/Candle.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't take pictures, but that's ok. It's so easy you don't need pictures.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got this idea from my dear friend, Carol, at <a href="http://thepolkadotcloset.blogspot.com/">The Polka Dot Cottage</a>. She gives a wonderful tutorial, with pictures, <a href="http://thepolkadotcloset.blogspot.com/search/label/How%20to%20stamping%20candles">here</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Basically, you stamp an image onto white tissue paper and then hair dry it onto the candle with wax paper. Seriously, the hardest part is holding the image and tissue paper tight with an oven mit on (that hair dryer gets hot!).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6IgNWJakQXg/TwW9wBMy5BI/AAAAAAAACJM/B5xWa-hZ-Yo/s1600/Candle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6IgNWJakQXg/TwW9wBMy5BI/AAAAAAAACJM/B5xWa-hZ-Yo/s320/Candle+2.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's hard to see, but this ones says, "See God in ever person, place, thing, and all will be well in your world." - Louise Hay.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NC7ft_iHSMg/TwW-bDfB1rI/AAAAAAAACJY/YQy6T42d4WU/s1600/Candle+Holders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NC7ft_iHSMg/TwW-bDfB1rI/AAAAAAAACJY/YQy6T42d4WU/s320/Candle+Holders.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The large floral one is a flameless candle. Unfortunately, it did not get adhered good enough and came off. But I'm not done trying to get this effect with a flameless candle. I'll keep you posted on my success.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I DID however share these candles with my booth lovelies. :) They just need to find their own candlesticks. LOL </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh come on....THAT was funny. :P</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And for complete randomness, here a couple other things I've put my touch on and took to the booth yesterday.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bbc-qE00BOE/TwW_fpRsanI/AAAAAAAACJk/0dT9WUJPzWk/s1600/Plastic+Shelf+Redo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bbc-qE00BOE/TwW_fpRsanI/AAAAAAAACJk/0dT9WUJPzWk/s320/Plastic+Shelf+Redo.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><i>Excuse my disgusting carpet. Note to self...probably not the best spot for photo ops. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This shelf was a plastic gold scrolly shelf turned that I turned into this lovely with a whole lot of black, white, and gray paint. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I must confess, I also did not want to give this up. Having a booth is tough...I'm stingy. ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iI4CZNCSnt8/TwXAIrQjG5I/AAAAAAAACJw/v24lp5591SQ/s1600/Frame+with+Fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iI4CZNCSnt8/TwXAIrQjG5I/AAAAAAAACJw/v24lp5591SQ/s320/Frame+with+Fabric.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Someday I'm going to get around to showing you my new/old dining room chairs. But this is the fabric that I used to upholster the seats. I ADORE this fabric and want to use it everywhere! But I do realize that might be <i>slight</i> over kill. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Gma Pat gave me a bunch of frames at Christmas she no longer wanted, so this was one that I painted and distressed and added my new favorite fabric too. Wouldn't this be great in a gallery wall! I may or may not have wanted to keep it to put on MY gallery wall I'm planning for the living room. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm seeing a very ugly theme here...what about you? ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-85907895710850207032012-01-05T09:37:00.000-05:002012-01-05T09:37:35.815-05:00Fresh Beginnings<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>HAPPY NEW YEAR!!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Isn't there always something exciting about starting a new year? It's like all your dreams and ambitions get a fresh start. With the beginning of each new year, your dreams suddenly become a possibility again. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qcoocgX-trM/TwWxCwV6AwI/AAAAAAAACIc/rWjrgvS61oU/s1600/freshdaybirdprintcloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qcoocgX-trM/TwWxCwV6AwI/AAAAAAAACIc/rWjrgvS61oU/s320/freshdaybirdprintcloseup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/37574637/a-new-day-8-x-10-mixed-media-print-by">June Pfaff Daley</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm very blessed and have a wonderful life. I truly do not have any complaints about the life I have been lucky enough to live. But I'd still like to push myself to max out my potential. I don't make a lot of resolutions per say. I just pray for continued blessings. But man, that feeling of new possibilities sure makes your mind wander. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are my dreams/plans for this new year? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be a better Christian!!!</b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spend more QUALITY time with my daughter!!!</b></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Continue on towards my Interior Design degree. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Explore my artistic side more, try my hand at some painting.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grow my blog. (Don't we all aspire to that? LOL)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start using my blog to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">facilitate </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">online design consultations.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learn Photoshop! </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Expand my booth from a wall to a full size booth.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start finishing and selling more furniture redo's.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe fall in love? ;)</span></li>
</ul><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the big one I've been tossing around for some time now, but not sure I have the time to manage it properly at this moment...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start another blog (an expansion on my favorite quote by Ghandi - "Be</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the change you wish to see in the world"). It would give challenges, give ideas </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(some big, but mostly small manageable ways) on things we can each do to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">make changes or impact someones </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">life, fun quotes, volunteering, spotlighting </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">people who are making an impact, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">help find ways in various communities to get </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">involved, recycling, etc.</span></li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As far as the house goes, it's mostly going to depend on funds this year. Things are uncomfortably tight this year with me not working and going to school full time. But here's the dream list anyway...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bead-board</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to the bathroom, including the ceiling, and replace the ventilation fan.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add a patio to the backyard (not sure about what type of patio I want or how that will look yet).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish the fence project that took all spring/summer last year. :P</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New Bamboo floors (that's been on my wish list for almost 3 yrs now! Chances are, it will still be on my wish list next year too. LOL)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make a headboard for my bed (also been on the list for several years now).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add molding to the tops of the kitchen cabinets (which I purchased almost a year ago, but have done nothing with).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paint the insides of the kitchen cabinets.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Build a bench for the kitchen table.</span></li>
</ul><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Phew! I don't think I can fit much more than that into just one year. ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So, here's to a fresh start.....and to new possibilities!!!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://openclipart.org/detail/101449/Toast">Source</a></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSUtlm_DPBc/TwWuG0WsW0I/AAAAAAAACIQ/gVEL95D2rSo/s1600/Toast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSUtlm_DPBc/TwWuG0WsW0I/AAAAAAAACIQ/gVEL95D2rSo/s400/Toast.png" width="282" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" /></div>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-22529455007134357942011-12-23T15:02:00.001-05:002012-01-05T10:52:26.904-05:00Chalkboard Love<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been slightly obsessed with chalkboards lately. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've sold several chalkboards in my booth lately. This is the most recent taken to the booth for sale.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Q_RL7gKW6E/TvTZuO9pSDI/AAAAAAAACHc/Wn4plyrlBl4/s1600/17943183116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Q_RL7gKW6E/TvTZuO9pSDI/AAAAAAAACHc/Wn4plyrlBl4/s320/17943183116.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It didn't always look like this though. I rescued it from Goodwill on one of our half priced Saturday's. It was U.G.L.Y.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgbqPfEFMKg/TvTYaWL2QTI/AAAAAAAACHI/XsNYm2JPD-4/s1600/17943086939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgbqPfEFMKg/TvTYaWL2QTI/AAAAAAAACHI/XsNYm2JPD-4/s320/17943086939.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I painted and distressed the frame. And then I used chalkboard paint over the glass. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I bought this container of FolkArt Chalkboard Paint forever ago with a coupon. So, I paid approximately $5. It takes quite a few coats, usually at least 4 coats, to cover nicely. But I still have well over half of the bottle, many projects later.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RBBzZEzNgAA/TvTZGbZlmKI/AAAAAAAACHU/BpWbTQj7AmY/s1600/17943131990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RBBzZEzNgAA/TvTZGbZlmKI/AAAAAAAACHU/BpWbTQj7AmY/s320/17943131990.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, here is the finished project once again. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Q_RL7gKW6E/TvTZuO9pSDI/AAAAAAAACHc/Wn4plyrlBl4/s1600/17943183116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Q_RL7gKW6E/TvTZuO9pSDI/AAAAAAAACHc/Wn4plyrlBl4/s400/17943183116.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And with that, this will be my final post until after new year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you each take time away from the computer to enjoy time with your family and friends this holiday season!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>MERRY CHRISTMAS!!</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This project was featured <a href="http://craftionary.blogspot.com/2011/01/wednesday-wordplay-chalkboard-crafts.html">here </a>at <a href="http://craftionary.blogspot.com/">Craftionary</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-15965843901877689302011-12-21T20:00:00.001-05:002011-12-21T20:00:02.814-05:00Meeting a Bloggety Friend!!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting my long time blogging friend, Tammy, from <a href="http://www.notjustpaperandglue.com/"><span style="color: #741b47;">Not Just Paper and Glue</span></a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a border="0" href="http://www.notjustpaperandglue.com/" target="_blank"><img hlnk="alt=" src="http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Tammyscraps/Custom%20Blog%20Design%20by%20Kim/button_ribbon.png" target="_blank" title="Not Just Paper and Glue" /></a><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlRJZ1ZgzCE/TvE2LbZm52I/AAAAAAAACFY/wQJyVsC712o/s1600/17897777830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlRJZ1ZgzCE/TvE2LbZm52I/AAAAAAAACFY/wQJyVsC712o/s400/17897777830.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She lives outside Dallas where I am visiting my family. So, we made arrangements to meet at </span><a href="http://thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/welcome-to-little-blue-house-blog.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The Little Blue House</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in Keller, Texas.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Grab our Blinkie!" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Aba-w4cOHYM/TNdLhcc46GI/AAAAAAAAB8I/0zTjXn_3Gw0/S250/TheLittleBlueHouse+non+animated+blinkie.gif" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Little Blue House was amazing! I chose to do these Ho Ho Ho Tags.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zz7kgRsl3oU/TsyKWA-lFhI/AAAAAAAADcc/5uKZbGGJkIY/s400/Christmas+Projects+2011+036.JPG" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>These are not mine...mine are still drying because I used WAY to much of the glossy stuff over my letters....but on the bright side....they are looking really good (if they ever dry). ;)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anywho....I enjoyed finally meeting in Tammy in person. She is just as sweet as I imagined she would be. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She made this gorgeous flower ball ornament for me!! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5w49sgI3mTc/TvFFZd-57RI/AAAAAAAACGI/KrF8so_MDOw/s1600/17898701793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5w49sgI3mTc/TvFFZd-57RI/AAAAAAAACGI/KrF8so_MDOw/s320/17898701793.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tammy is a PK Glitz representative. She let me try out all her goodies! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can I just say.....I AM IN LOVE WITH GLITTER!!! It was so much fun! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The glitter is so fine (not that I can really say I know much about glitter). But here is what I made.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iy87tWMZTg8/TvE7V_7DxSI/AAAAAAAACFk/HUjsx_b8ho4/s1600/17898088154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iy87tWMZTg8/TvE7V_7DxSI/AAAAAAAACFk/HUjsx_b8ho4/s200/17898088154.jpg" width="173" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MCp03e4RRQM/TvE7x1nL8_I/AAAAAAAACFs/DnLhkMsy5_s/s1600/17898121816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MCp03e4RRQM/TvE7x1nL8_I/AAAAAAAACFs/DnLhkMsy5_s/s200/17898121816.jpg" width="167" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vp4xGlbs1U4/TvE8lWMutnI/AAAAAAAACF8/5yQ-SXSx-xY/s1600/17898159393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vp4xGlbs1U4/TvE8lWMutnI/AAAAAAAACF8/5yQ-SXSx-xY/s200/17898159393.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZ_ylGqH1wM/TvE8SHgje7I/AAAAAAAACF0/pJYF0Aa2c2E/s1600/17898153015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZ_ylGqH1wM/TvE8SHgje7I/AAAAAAAACF0/pJYF0Aa2c2E/s200/17898153015.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cannot tell you how happy I am I got to meet Tammy. If you have time, stop by her blog and check her out. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-46944058171305109762011-12-20T20:14:00.000-05:002011-12-20T20:14:43.869-05:00O' Christmas Tree<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>O' Christmas Tree.....O' Christmas Tree.....You Bring Me So Much Pleasure!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although we are never home for Christmas, I still decorate the house and the tree every year. I figure we have a few weeks prior to Christmas to enjoy it before we leave to visit our family. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week I showed you some of the other Christmas decor around the house this year. Here is our super, duper skinny tree (the only size that will fit in our pint sized home)...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PjrX_4Jk2Y/TvEun71gJKI/AAAAAAAACFA/_SsXYlNMqTU/s1600/17897323856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PjrX_4Jk2Y/TvEun71gJKI/AAAAAAAACFA/_SsXYlNMqTU/s640/17897323856.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most of our ornaments are either handmade or they have a special meaning to us.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year I told you all about <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2010/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-2-ornament.html">the special sequin ornaments</a> that my Grandmother used to make for my mother every year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was SOOOO excited when I stumbled upon several bags of antique handmade sequined ornaments at my favorite Antique Mall last month.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TomaNhBIfUg/TvEtBC9ZDcI/AAAAAAAACEg/GK2VMaza-To/s1600/17897223955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TomaNhBIfUg/TvEtBC9ZDcI/AAAAAAAACEg/GK2VMaza-To/s320/17897223955.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They were bagged 4 to 5 ornaments to a bag for $5...I felt like I had won the lottery!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dDYPNpzYo9Q/TvEtUfOFabI/AAAAAAAACEo/RkAJOaQYQfc/s1600/17897250048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dDYPNpzYo9Q/TvEtUfOFabI/AAAAAAAACEo/RkAJOaQYQfc/s320/17897250048.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are just as beautiful as the ones my Grandmother used to make. I had a hard time believing that someone's family actually gave these beauties up.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ivd385rOhMQ/TvEsZ53uq2I/AAAAAAAACEQ/RtrMFlX22Oo/s1600/17897187570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ivd385rOhMQ/TvEsZ53uq2I/AAAAAAAACEQ/RtrMFlX22Oo/s320/17897187570.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be able to add to my collection, and so inexpensively, was a wonderful surprise this year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiyRL0uiWH0/TvEspJSVoGI/AAAAAAAACEY/q2CYE9HcMX0/s1600/17897210047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiyRL0uiWH0/TvEspJSVoGI/AAAAAAAACEY/q2CYE9HcMX0/s320/17897210047.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you are all having a special holiday season!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmjroeKSu64/TvEuKal5QbI/AAAAAAAACE4/p3nXrwuNhoE/s1600/17897302338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmjroeKSu64/TvEuKal5QbI/AAAAAAAACE4/p3nXrwuNhoE/s640/17897302338.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-40386098478201017152011-11-26T22:29:00.000-05:002011-11-26T22:29:15.126-05:00Deck the Halls....<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g50Ros-d9Ck/TtGi4PfXwEI/AAAAAAAAB6s/WsdpwBDdwX8/s1600/17515406770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g50Ros-d9Ck/TtGi4PfXwEI/AAAAAAAAB6s/WsdpwBDdwX8/s400/17515406770.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have had a much needed break this past week and took the opportunity to deck the halls....walls.....shelves.....and more. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lMF077dCRtc/TtGjwohnVYI/AAAAAAAAB64/bRt5kicNODg/s1600/17515464632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lMF077dCRtc/TtGjwohnVYI/AAAAAAAAB64/bRt5kicNODg/s400/17515464632.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also got a new camera on Black Friday!!!!!! </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">No, I did NOT get a DSLR...I'm still an unemployed student remember...what were you thinking. LOL</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Anwho, here's hoping the new Nikon Coolpix L105 can make up for my lack of photography skills. ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought I'd kick off my favorite holiday with a few pictures of the holiday decor this year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kUVY4kv8rRI/TtGmmY5Se6I/AAAAAAAAB7Y/16SGlQsGaAE/s1600/17515649103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kUVY4kv8rRI/TtGmmY5Se6I/AAAAAAAAB7Y/16SGlQsGaAE/s400/17515649103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pfnRnkdw2yE/TtGlA23JcNI/AAAAAAAAB7E/U25tNm8Qp4o/s1600/17515537073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pfnRnkdw2yE/TtGlA23JcNI/AAAAAAAAB7E/U25tNm8Qp4o/s400/17515537073.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCEkw2ghvPE/TtGl_D3XRvI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/-SRqi7r7L7w/s1600/17515600097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCEkw2ghvPE/TtGl_D3XRvI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/-SRqi7r7L7w/s320/17515600097.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lMF077dCRtc/TtGjwohnVYI/AAAAAAAAB64/bRt5kicNODg/s1600/17515464632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lMF077dCRtc/TtGjwohnVYI/AAAAAAAAB64/bRt5kicNODg/s400/17515464632.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nmilggBl59Y/TtGoV9CUgNI/AAAAAAAAB7k/zeVjFqZjx8Q/s1600/17515746274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nmilggBl59Y/TtGoV9CUgNI/AAAAAAAAB7k/zeVjFqZjx8Q/s400/17515746274.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g50Ros-d9Ck/TtGi4PfXwEI/AAAAAAAAB6s/WsdpwBDdwX8/s1600/17515406770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g50Ros-d9Ck/TtGi4PfXwEI/AAAAAAAAB6s/WsdpwBDdwX8/s320/17515406770.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope to share more pictures of our holiday decor soon. But until then, enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-85636948303376569162011-10-29T22:18:00.000-04:002011-10-29T22:18:05.658-04:00Beautiful Junk<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was motivated to get a blog post up this weekend because my awesome bloggety-friend, Mel, from <a href="http://junkinjunky.blogspot.com/">Junkin' Junky</a> is hosting her first link party called "Beautiful Junk Saturday"!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.junkinjunky.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="125" src="http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h431/usthreeatrogersdotcom/beautifuljunksaturday.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just <u><i>had</i></u> to be a part of it. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And since I haven't been posting much lately because of school, I figured I'd show several projects I've done recently for my <strike>boutique</strike> wall at The Emporium in Greenwood, IN.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's see....first up is the, um, lovely apple recipe holder I picked up at Goodwill.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HC4Bp6SjRsQ/TqyuSqw1PsI/AAAAAAAAB5o/3cmCicCJaHc/s1600/Recipe+Box+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HC4Bp6SjRsQ/TqyuSqw1PsI/AAAAAAAAB5o/3cmCicCJaHc/s320/Recipe+Box+Before.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After lots of sanding, some black spray paint and some awesome scrapbook papers, I had this.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aRrcj1w50c/Tqyuo3W_eJI/AAAAAAAAB5w/dIykD_8xHis/s1600/Recipe+Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aRrcj1w50c/Tqyuo3W_eJI/AAAAAAAAB5w/dIykD_8xHis/s320/Recipe+Box.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It went straight to the booth, but I will be honest, I will not be heartbroken if it doesn't sell because I am completely in love with it! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Second is the little plate I also found at Goodwill. I loved the shape.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRYA-vB7WhI/Tqyu7zCe4qI/AAAAAAAAB54/9Gb0tSENcIg/s1600/White+Plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRYA-vB7WhI/Tqyu7zCe4qI/AAAAAAAAB54/9Gb0tSENcIg/s320/White+Plate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I decided it would make a really cute chalkboard for the kitchen.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was the first time I worked with chalkboard paint. It took at least 4 coats, maybe more, but I was impressed with how well it worked when done. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N19vNJNdQMQ/TqyvE_AQMvI/AAAAAAAAB6A/w4vGsdIbMgQ/s1600/Plate+Chalkboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N19vNJNdQMQ/TqyvE_AQMvI/AAAAAAAAB6A/w4vGsdIbMgQ/s320/Plate+Chalkboard.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shhhh, don't tell anyone but I have another plate so I can make one for myself. too. ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I only make things for the booth that I would love to have myself....which makes selling my own handmade creation super tough! I want to keep everything I sell! LOL</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, that brings to my third Goodwill upcycle. An old wood taper candle holder. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mhx4ML1Xk7Y/TqywA7gBxpI/AAAAAAAAB6I/BKLtxorHrfw/s1600/Candle+Holder+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mhx4ML1Xk7Y/TqywA7gBxpI/AAAAAAAAB6I/BKLtxorHrfw/s320/Candle+Holder+Before.jpg" width="93" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not a fan of tapered candles, they just drip all over the place for me and it bugs me. So, I took this candle holder and added a finial I purchased at Lowe's.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-zbhYzp_nM/TqywOfFJ-2I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/Bz26VJFR83I/s1600/Candle+Holder+with+Finial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-zbhYzp_nM/TqywOfFJ-2I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/Bz26VJFR83I/s320/Candle+Holder+with+Finial.jpg" width="76" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used black spray paint over the whole thing to make it one large decorative finial piece. I also distressed it slightly with a gold Rub n Buff. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9uX3A3J_jc/TqywiU52DCI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/UiDov2dM3bU/s1600/Finial+Complete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9uX3A3J_jc/TqywiU52DCI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/UiDov2dM3bU/s320/Finial+Complete.jpg" width="112" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another creation I had a REALLY hard time getting rid of.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And lastly, I don't have before shots, but basically I used a plain glass candle holder, hot glued burlap, some twine and an vintage jewelry piece for a, now, fancy candle holder.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TPLe0jmRAJg/Tqyw9x6FNYI/AAAAAAAAB6g/MoyU4jUA50Q/s1600/Candle+Holder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TPLe0jmRAJg/Tqyw9x6FNYI/AAAAAAAAB6g/MoyU4jUA50Q/s320/Candle+Holder.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whew!! So, there you have a handful of what I've been working around here.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of these items have already sold at the booth and others were still there yesterday when I was there.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">************************</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As an update, the booth is actually doing really well. I just wish I had more time to work on stuff for it. School has me CRAZY busy. Seriously, I do homework all. the. time! But can you believe I'm already halfway through the first semester! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surprisingly, Algebra (remember how worried I was?) has come VERY easy to me. It's actually my easiest class! Can you believe that? LOL </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drawing is extremely hard for me, but I LOVE it! Go figure. I'm actually going to take another drawing class next semester even though it won't count toward my Interior Design degree. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the hardest class, without a doubt, is Intro to Interior Design! There is SO much work in that class!! Architectural hand lettering...impossible! The tests and quizzes....ridiculously hard! Floor plans and elevations TO SCALE....takes forever. I have serious concerns about my end grade in that class....can you believe that?!?! It's quite shocking to me. Who would have dreamed THAT would be the class to give me heartburn. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong...I enjoy every single bit of what we are learning. It's just an overwhelming amount of work. My ever so slight perfectionism might, just maybe, be a part of that....but....nah....that can't be it. ;)</span></div><br />
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<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-63564337285275959762011-09-29T20:59:00.000-04:002011-09-29T20:59:15.544-04:00Bedroom Updates<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">STOP!! Don't adjust your screen!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Really......</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it's me.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With an actual, real live, honest to goodness POST!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">********************************</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know all my followers understand, but I still feel the need to apologize for my long dry spells between posts these days.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ladies (and Gents), let me just tell you.....COLLEGE IS A LOT OF WORK!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel like all I do these days is go to school and come home and do homework and repeat! Occasionally I make something for the booth (about once every 2 weeks). That is what life consists of lately. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew it was going to be a lot of work....but I was not prepared for the insane amount of hours I put into homework EVERY SINGLE FLIPPIN' DAY!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I gotta tell you..........</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I LOVE IT!!</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seriously, I do! Even algebra (which I currently have an A in....WOOHOO!) The art classes have been extremely hard for me. It appears I am not naturally artistic. LOL But what I lack in talent I am trying to desperately make up for with LOTS and LOTS (and LOTS) of practice. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">***************************</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, so on to my master bedroom updates.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many, many moons ago, I posted about my master bedroom <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2010/08/master-bedroom.html">here</a>. But since that was way before most of you were followers, let's take a trip back.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I purchased my home, the tiny 11x12 master bedroom looked like this.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-86bxwdWWNPY/ToPGnaRuSAI/AAAAAAAAB5E/h4L7cNLJScU/s1600/Imported+Photos+00123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-86bxwdWWNPY/ToPGnaRuSAI/AAAAAAAAB5E/h4L7cNLJScU/s320/Imported+Photos+00123.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYXS0_nPEF0/ToPGsSIC-mI/AAAAAAAAB5I/RQJMffxKhvY/s1600/Master+Bedroom+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYXS0_nPEF0/ToPGsSIC-mI/AAAAAAAAB5I/RQJMffxKhvY/s320/Master+Bedroom+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1989 called and wanted the pink walls, brass fan and awful fake wood doors and trim back!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But once I painted the walls the perfect yellow/gold color (that I can't find the name to!!) and all the trim and doors, it looked like this.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k69USWLFrSY/ToPHCrtcuGI/AAAAAAAAB5M/7-XJR_Wt2Es/s1600/Imported+Photos+00014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k69USWLFrSY/ToPHCrtcuGI/AAAAAAAAB5M/7-XJR_Wt2Es/s320/Imported+Photos+00014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then this....</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1WBtD_DZ6c4/ToPHK4GymXI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/OSRvoTPvvaE/s1600/Master+Bed+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1WBtD_DZ6c4/ToPHK4GymXI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/OSRvoTPvvaE/s320/Master+Bed+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The closet doors painted white...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DjWC-wIrHjg/ToPHR1K7AhI/AAAAAAAAB5U/Sx8EQU_P0Dg/s1600/Master+Closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DjWC-wIrHjg/ToPHR1K7AhI/AAAAAAAAB5U/Sx8EQU_P0Dg/s320/Master+Closet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And my GORGEOUS Pottery Barn Velvet curtains that I only paid $20 a panel for at Home Goods which you can read about <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2010/08/master-bedroom.html">here</a>!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UN05H90fvq8/ToPHqvSFdCI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/W4uvObXZSwo/s1600/Master+Curtains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UN05H90fvq8/ToPHqvSFdCI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/W4uvObXZSwo/s320/Master+Curtains.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was nothing wrong with this look (except for the need of a headboard) and I loved it for well over a year, which let's face it, in the Interior Design blogging world is like an eternity! ;)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The changes I made recently first started out of necessity...but spiraled into pretty much a whole new look. You know how that goes. LOL </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I needed a new home for the pie safe after I <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2011/07/entertainment-center-redo.html">moved the computer into the living room</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The pie safe is probably the only piece of furniture I will never part with in my house. It is THE work horse of my house. It holds warranties, photo albums, every single photo ever taken, memories, Doodle's baby stuff.....everything important.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really didn't have anywhere else to put it, but my bedroom. I also felt it was important to keep that piece near me as we start to bring in foster children. I don't want to risk the stuff inside to possible anger, outbursts, and such.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a decent sized piece of furniture though and my bedroom is tiny. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tried several different layouts which made the tiny bedroom feel crowded. But u</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ltimately, 50 more nail holes later, settled here.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lRLhcFi7stQ/ToPRV0ZhloI/AAAAAAAAB5c/-OEeKLk0nSA/s1600/MB+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lRLhcFi7stQ/ToPRV0ZhloI/AAAAAAAAB5c/-OEeKLk0nSA/s400/MB+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was surprised the bedroom actually felt more spacious! How is that possible? It's proof, just because you have small rooms, it doesn't mean you have to always use small scaled furniture.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you remember that picture above the bed? It use to be in the living room. It didn't make the living room cuts, but works beautifully in my bedroom now. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, I STILL need a headboard! It's been 2 1/2 years...I mean seriously, you'd think I would have taken care of that by now.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Vqs791hxTY/ToPSmeogA-I/AAAAAAAAB5g/w1YcBI6EKw8/s1600/MB+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Vqs791hxTY/ToPSmeogA-I/AAAAAAAAB5g/w1YcBI6EKw8/s400/MB+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only thing I purchased for this room redo was the denim comforter. It was important that the Pottery Barn curtains stayed in the room, so scrounging through my garage I found this old quilt I had. And that's where the color scheme started coming from.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took the two dark red pillows from the previous bedding set and turned them around to hide the gold ornate stitching....and wallah, they look like new pillows.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll show some of the details in a later post. But for now wanted show you the changes taking place inside. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dur-9tupeQA/ToUSTtc7BCI/AAAAAAAAB5k/X2ZvVYP_QSU/s1600/MB+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dur-9tupeQA/ToUSTtc7BCI/AAAAAAAAB5k/X2ZvVYP_QSU/s400/MB+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" /></div>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-6000038484883004172011-09-17T11:24:00.000-04:002011-09-17T11:24:19.842-04:00Book Review - Life Without Limits<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The latest book I read for <a href="http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/">Blogging for Books</a> was "Life Without Limits" by Nick Vujicic.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-669IWeZBajI/TnS7mMTCYDI/AAAAAAAAB5A/j6iiMlHcyAE/s1600/life+without+limits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-669IWeZBajI/TnS7mMTCYDI/AAAAAAAAB5A/j6iiMlHcyAE/s320/life+without+limits.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nick was born with no arms OR legs! And yet he has managed to live a full, happy life. In this book he encourages people that if he can face all the challenges that living with no arms and legs brings, then we can all live a life without limits.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall, I was inspired by the book. I mean how can you NOT feel somewhat guilty about the little things we complain about when we compare ourselves to Nick. We are clearly blessed just to be born with complete bodies. I know I am quite guilty of complaining about my weight...and yet in comparison I'll take my extra 'baggage' over no limbs anyday.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is very religious in nature. Nick credits God and His plan (as well as his amazing parents) for him being where he is today and who he is. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The only problem with the book is, I felt like it read somewhat like an infomercial. Nick is very honest about his pain growing up different and fitting in and such. But at times the book read a little too "look how wonderful I am." It became redundant by halfway through the book. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are in need of encouragement or help looking at how blessed you really are...then absolutely read this book. If you are just looking for a good read, I'd pass on it. :/</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-79837021630852418512011-09-08T10:00:00.001-04:002011-09-08T10:00:00.357-04:00Winner of the UPrinting Giveaway!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the winner of the UPrinting giveaway is......</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">drum roll.....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tdICw2j1fx8/TmgDHRGkVyI/AAAAAAAAB44/2a38Unz3Ee0/s1600/UPrinting+giveaway+Random+Number.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tdICw2j1fx8/TmgDHRGkVyI/AAAAAAAAB44/2a38Unz3Ee0/s320/UPrinting+giveaway+Random+Number.png" width="319" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The glowing new Mommy....Greta at <a href="http://modgarden.blogspot.com/">Modern Garden</a>!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ilfy-Y2ybZE/TmgDhfFnjBI/AAAAAAAAB48/RJdwq7B60ac/s1600/Greta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ilfy-Y2ybZE/TmgDhfFnjBI/AAAAAAAAB48/RJdwq7B60ac/s200/Greta.JPG" width="130" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Congratulations Greta!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-77906751079685942822011-09-07T14:00:00.002-04:002011-09-07T14:00:03.921-04:00Guest Posting - DIY Kinda Girl<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I am guest posting over at <a href="http://diykindagirl.blogspot.com/">DIY Kinda Girl</a>!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></div><br />
<center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://diykindagirl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img height="320" src=" http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m498/heatheripson/DIY-button.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></center><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stop by and see my latest, fall inspired, project!!! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh how I love me some FALL! And it's finally in the air here in Indy! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-91874537071519546742011-09-07T06:48:00.001-04:002011-09-07T06:50:42.528-04:00Last Chance - UPrinting Giveaway<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is the last day to enter the <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2011/09/uprinting-giveaway.html">UPrinting giveaway</a> for :</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">500 pcs. Letterheads for One (1) winner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">5.5” x 8.5"<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">70lb Offset<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Front Only Printing<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">4 Business Days Print Turnaround Time<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">*Free Shipping<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Restriction: Limited to *US residents 18 years old and above only</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I'm extending the time (since I'll be in school and not able to check anyway, LOL) to <b><u><i>5:00 pm EST today</i></u></b>!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, you have a few extra hours to get your name in the hat. Yay! :)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">All you have to do is be a follower (or reader) of Where Beauty Meets Function and leave a comment <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2011/09/uprinting-giveaway.html">here</a> and you are entered.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good luck everyone!!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">Disclaimer: Required as per FTC Ruling (Please see example below):<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/letterhead-printing.html" style="color: #813745; text-decoration: none;">letterhead printing</a> service by hosting. <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/letterhead-design.html" style="color: #813745; text-decoration: none;">Letterhead design</a>inspiration and <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/wedding-envelopes.html" style="color: #813745; text-decoration: none;">wedding envelopes</a> is also available. Please visit UPrinting.com for more details.</span></div></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div><span style="color: black;"><br />
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<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-32882058311276656742011-09-02T23:34:00.000-04:002011-09-02T23:34:50.822-04:00UPrinting Giveaway<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so excited to be able to offer you an awesome giveaway courtesy of UPrinting!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.uprinting.com/envelope-printing.html"><img border="0" height="353" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I4mD-QnWIHM/TmGbJqhkS-I/AAAAAAAAB4s/w68mBoAZR7M/s640/letterheads+%252B+envelopes.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the first time I've been contacted by a company to offer my readers a giveaway!!! And well, as most of you know...that's HUGE!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sure you've seen UPrinting all over blogland lately offering similar fantastic giveaways, so here's another chance to win!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is what UPrinting is offering one lucky reader of Where Beauty Meets Function:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">500 pcs. Letterheads for One (1) winner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">5.5” x 8.5"<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">70lb Offset<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Front Only Printing<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">4 Business Days Print Turnaround Time<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">*Free Shipping<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Restriction: Limited to *US residents 18 years old and above only</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Sweet!! Right?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">You can upload your own images to your letterhead or create a piece all your own from the large selection of images they have to choose from. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wouldn't it be awesome to have your own, personalized, custom letterhead!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anywho, <u>the only requirement to enter </u>is that you be a follower of Where Beauty Meets Function. That's it. :)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The giveaway will end Wednesday, September 7th at noon EST.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">So, with that, I'll leave you with the required Disclaimer. Good luck everyone!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">Disclaimer: Required as per FTC Ruling (Please see example below):<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/letterhead-printing.html">letterhead printing</a> service by hosting. <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/letterhead-design.html">Letterhead design</a> inspiration and <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/wedding-envelopes.html">wedding envelopes</a> is also available. Please visit UPrinting.com for more details.</span></div></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><br />
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</span></div><img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-1523057031119147372011-08-26T20:44:00.000-04:002011-08-26T20:44:22.477-04:00Little Yellow Table<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Months ago I picked up this little, extremely sturdy, plant stand/table at a yard sale.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PIQP8ny5qXA/TkZwS46gDzI/AAAAAAAAB2k/5ERMN0jMIo0/s1600/15801051907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PIQP8ny5qXA/TkZwS46gDzI/AAAAAAAAB2k/5ERMN0jMIo0/s400/15801051907.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TWV85Vvh3Qw/TkZwpec0iyI/AAAAAAAAB2o/kXqVNTIF2q8/s1600/15801061240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TWV85Vvh3Qw/TkZwpec0iyI/AAAAAAAAB2o/kXqVNTIF2q8/s320/15801061240.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As with all my projects, it sat in my garage for.ev.er before I got around to redoing it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is certainly not an overly spectacular piece of furniture, but I absolutely LOVE the color! <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Strawflower...with a slight bit of distressing thanks to Ralph Lauren Smoke Glaze.)</span></i> And it is one of my favorite redo's to date!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow she is going to a new home <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(via Craig and his list)</i></span>...which is a total bummer to me. I really want to keep her. But alas, the downside of a small home, I have no room for her. :(</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EqWbz5CtlRE/TkZqFbenGZI/AAAAAAAAB1k/PFftH_5n4Fg/s1600/15800846178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EqWbz5CtlRE/TkZqFbenGZI/AAAAAAAAB1k/PFftH_5n4Fg/s400/15800846178.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Isn't she just precious?!? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know she is a "she" because she is so dainty and yet so strong...she could be nothing other than a "she".</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4tgsX4gu70/TkZrI1RisFI/AAAAAAAAB1w/dp1PBGwH3T0/s1600/15800881540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4tgsX4gu70/TkZrI1RisFI/AAAAAAAAB1w/dp1PBGwH3T0/s400/15800881540.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it's amazing how resourceful we can be when need be. My little vase of "flowers" are actually weeds that are growing in the yard of the abandoned house behind mine. And yet in a cute Goodwill vase, they look beautiful. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WKfkjrsGpE/TkZq2K_z0qI/AAAAAAAAB1s/fffyiaeX7ik/s1600/15800872172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WKfkjrsGpE/TkZq2K_z0qI/AAAAAAAAB1s/fffyiaeX7ik/s400/15800872172.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Such a sweet little lady.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tL9luLi9_W0/TkZqZ9TlerI/AAAAAAAAB1o/-4YT4ccCDLw/s1600/15800858628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tL9luLi9_W0/TkZqZ9TlerI/AAAAAAAAB1o/-4YT4ccCDLw/s400/15800858628.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I adore her.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EqWbz5CtlRE/TkZqFbenGZI/AAAAAAAAB1k/PFftH_5n4Fg/s1600/15800846178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EqWbz5CtlRE/TkZqFbenGZI/AAAAAAAAB1k/PFftH_5n4Fg/s400/15800846178.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-91138469495008055852011-08-17T10:42:00.000-04:002011-08-17T10:42:18.346-04:00Updates<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I figured it had been awhile on any updates on the personal front. So, in case anyone was wondering....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>SCHOOL STARTS ON MONDAY!!!!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JPbjWi7otfY/TkvEwBxpqKI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/fh4Non1S8ho/s1600/Instructor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JPbjWi7otfY/TkvEwBxpqKI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/fh4Non1S8ho/s1600/Instructor.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://cngblog.wordpress.com/">Image</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not Doodle's....she started school last week. She started 6th grade and is loving it. I'm so glad I have a kid who loves school. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But NO, I'm talking about....COLLEGE!! For me. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm excited and nervous at the same time! It's been <u><b>19 years</b></u> since I was in school!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For anyone who missed it, I am starting college full time to get my Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WXMQMtHzuoY/TkvDjKWKsSI/AAAAAAAAB4U/oKE4ZZnIMNg/s1600/Math.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WXMQMtHzuoY/TkvDjKWKsSI/AAAAAAAAB4U/oKE4ZZnIMNg/s320/Math.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So.....I managed to score high enough on my math placement test to at least take the lowest math at the University. Otherwise you have to take a class at the Community College before you can begin the lowest University math they said. So, that's good. I think. LOL</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But seriously, that does set me back a bit. I should be starting in Algebra and Trigonometry...math is a huge part of Interior Design. So, I'll have to take some summer classes to graduate on time. Such is life of being an "old" student. ;) </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or maybe, my backup plan of being a Social Worker instead will start sounding better and better. LOL</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9bp_Gyu3fA4/TkvF2W1CqyI/AAAAAAAAB4c/7UJabKtv2Qc/s1600/canstock3298943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9bp_Gyu3fA4/TkvF2W1CqyI/AAAAAAAAB4c/7UJabKtv2Qc/s200/canstock3298943.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://canstockphoto.com/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Image</span></i></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's see, I am also taking:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Intro to Interior Design</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Color and Design</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drawing for Interior Design</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those sound more up my alley. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">****************************</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, update on Foster Care.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DGeG3NrGAik/TkvG35DGTlI/AAAAAAAAB4g/-1rritsSjo8/s1600/kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DGeG3NrGAik/TkvG35DGTlI/AAAAAAAAB4g/-1rritsSjo8/s1600/kids.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://brickschools.org/"><i>Image</i></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had our home study a couple weeks ago and it went GREAT! The Villages had their meeting to discuss us last week and we were APPROVED!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Linda comes back out tomorrow to check that I did the things that needed to be done (I forgot about child safety locks for the cabinets with cleaners and the fire extinguisher...duh) and to go over my packet one last time....then it's just a matter of the state issuing my license. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, and getting the VA Hospital to MAIL MY PHYSICAL paperwork out! Did you hear me frustrating VA Hospital?? I'll even come pick it up....just fill it out. ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, we should, if a child with our criteria comes up, have a placement before the holiday seasons begin! Yay!! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">******************************</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's see....what other updates?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OH!!! Back to Doodle's school starting....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RpHSE6cvofw/TkvIHbtyX9I/AAAAAAAAB4k/u7UcLoQmNK0/s1600/bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RpHSE6cvofw/TkvIHbtyX9I/AAAAAAAAB4k/u7UcLoQmNK0/s1600/bus.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://suzannejohnson.info/"><i>Image</i></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our school district is having HUGE financial trouble. And since our township did NOT approve a tax hike last year (we already pay some of the highest taxes in the state...see a problem there?), they sold all of our buses (for a $1 I might add...think the Superintendent should be fired, I do) and <b>no longer bus our children to school</b>!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HUGE problem!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The alternative is to hire a private company (the one they sold the buses to for a $1) for <b>$50 A MONTH, PER CHILD,</b> to bus your kids. Or take them yourself. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, you can image the traffic nightmare it is causing as most people cannot afford an extra $50 a month....per kid!! We still have mostly rural, two lane streets in our community. So starting about 30 minutes before school let's out cars are just sitting on the streets, cars off, waiting to pick their kids up.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you imagine if you lived in those areas and were stuck in that traffic and didn't have kids!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been about 45 minutes to drop her off in the mornings...and easily an hour to pick her up!!! Yeah, nightmare!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The district has been very spiteful in their approach. It's really disappointing to say the least.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year over 8,000 kids took the school buses. This year only 1,800 signed up....that leaves over 7,200 parents taking and dropping their kids off at the schools to give you an idea of the problem!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">High school kids driving with cars loaded full of teens...picking up their siblings at the Middle School!! A few Middle School kids riding their bikes or walking....down a two lane rural street! Yeah, that's safe. :\ Parents like me, who are just trying to help each other out, taking other people's kids. I have 3 kids each day in my car to and from the Middle School. One of the mom's takes Tuesday's and my ex's girlfriend has Wednesday afternoon's.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And they closed schools and consolidated others...so their are more kids in each school as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wish I had an option....we'd move. It's that bad. But alas, I cannot afford to move...plus I really like the area we live in (other than the schools now). So, I'm stuck. :(</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>On the upside</b>...if you didn't have time for reading before...you have plenty of time for a book or magazine perusing now. ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*********************</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The booth is actually starting to pick up. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was a little worried at first, I was not selling ANYTHING. But when I stopped by this weekend there quite a bit missing. I think I've already made my booth rent for the month. Yay!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*********************</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other than that, it's days as normal. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm really busting my rear this week to get my outdoor projects done before school starts! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started, oh, about a bazillion projects this year outside, that I never finished. Why do I do that? LOL So, I need to wrap those up. Including painting my pergola! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And while I haven't blogged much this summer, I have TONS of projects from this summer to show you over the coming months. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-35167407315571908212011-08-13T13:57:00.000-04:002011-08-13T13:57:39.009-04:00Fence - Part 2<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until recently there has been no progress on the fence.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In case you missed the fence project and all the drama and lessons learned, check it out <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2011/04/fencing-drama.html">here</a>,<a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2011/06/im-so-excited.html"> here</a> and <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2011/06/vinyl-fence-lessons-learned.html">here</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know, it's hard to believe there have been three other posts about my fence, and yet this post is called Part 2. Yeah....it's been <i>that</i> kind of project. ;)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last month I had a huge yard sale to raise funds for the rest of the fence panels. And it was such a success I was even able to get the pergola I wanted!!! Unfortunately, it needed to be assembled. Every. Single. Little. Bitty. Piece!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So everything has sat for the last several weeks. BUT...last weekend while I was at my booth doing some tweaking, my ex-husband and my Doodle assembled my pergola!! Talk about a surprise! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it is GORGEOUS!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3Vpn_HltOI/TkZnUjLC34I/AAAAAAAAB1A/OyCll25v9D4/s1600/15800768100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3Vpn_HltOI/TkZnUjLC34I/AAAAAAAAB1A/OyCll25v9D4/s400/15800768100.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may be wondering why I chose a wood pergola when I have a vinyl fence. Well, one, it was cheaper than a vinyl one. This cost $189 on sale at Menards. The vinyl pergolas started around $300. But more importantly, this one is GORGEOUS (did I mention that?)! All the vinyl ones I looked at were very plain...nothing special.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I plan to paint this white to match the fence. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QT2aYCaqXbw/TkZmvNe_eXI/AAAAAAAAB0w/WQAP5h0hEPY/s1600/15800749316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QT2aYCaqXbw/TkZmvNe_eXI/AAAAAAAAB0w/WQAP5h0hEPY/s400/15800749316.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once I get this painted...once I get the money to buy paint, LOL...then I can finally get the picket fence installed on either side of the pergola. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, the pergola will be centered, it's not it's proper place at the moment...but this is progress for sure! :)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hojxerLaN0c/TkZnBSGqRHI/AAAAAAAAB00/gjBOreVa5sE/s1600/15800756526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hojxerLaN0c/TkZnBSGqRHI/AAAAAAAAB00/gjBOreVa5sE/s400/15800756526.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And you've probably forgotten (how dare you, LOL) but I was working on this <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2011/05/where-am-i.html">paver border</a> earlier in the spring. I finally finished it! Well, I finished it up to as much as I planned to do this year....where the picket fence will be installed. I'll pick it up again next spring. This is what it looked like last time you saw it.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-75T1-JiY4X0/Tka1oIKOx_I/AAAAAAAAB4A/nCwAv_JTuBc/s1600/Paver+Border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-75T1-JiY4X0/Tka1oIKOx_I/AAAAAAAAB4A/nCwAv_JTuBc/s400/Paver+Border.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here is what it looks like now.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GylIlYWtlnI/TkZnl1J0-AI/AAAAAAAAB1E/cbyUoETw90Q/s1600/15800773429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GylIlYWtlnI/TkZnl1J0-AI/AAAAAAAAB1E/cbyUoETw90Q/s400/15800773429.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took me for.ev.er to complete.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbuCI1r-Ns0/TkZoOVewjOI/AAAAAAAAB1M/lWg1F4YSQi8/s1600/15800789540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbuCI1r-Ns0/TkZoOVewjOI/AAAAAAAAB1M/lWg1F4YSQi8/s400/15800789540.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not so much because it was hard, because it really wasn't. It was somewhat time consuming, but not hard. No, it took forever because we've had a VERY hot summer! I'm not a big fan of H O T. So, I stopped working outside during the dog days of summer recently. But I finally pushed through and got it done a few weeks ago.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HYTTLmffLi0/TkZn6KA-SoI/AAAAAAAAB1I/tIixv-2v_B0/s1600/15800773183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HYTTLmffLi0/TkZn6KA-SoI/AAAAAAAAB1I/tIixv-2v_B0/s400/15800773183.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mostly used plants I already had by moving them from other, not so clean, locations. Or finally planting potted plants in the ground! Can you believe I had a catmint plant that lasted two years in the pot I bought it in! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgB71RQc3PE/TkZoeQOoPSI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/AKMdyhfIOwk/s1600/15800791035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgB71RQc3PE/TkZoeQOoPSI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/AKMdyhfIOwk/s400/15800791035.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do need to put more sand in the "joints" and put some topsoil and grass seed in the areas I overshot when I was cutting the beds out with my spade.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess thinking I'm "done" is overrated. LOL</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But considering when I bought this house two and half years ago the only landscaping were the boxwoods and white rocks...I'm pretty pleased with my progress....and so are my neighbors.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knmswe6yhuY/TkZo3k6oeZI/AAAAAAAAB1U/6uMuuU9OWnE/s1600/15800807452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knmswe6yhuY/TkZo3k6oeZI/AAAAAAAAB1U/6uMuuU9OWnE/s400/15800807452.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hopefully I can show the final fence photos soon. But for now, I am completely in love with my pergola...and my finished border project! :)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3Vpn_HltOI/TkZnUjLC34I/AAAAAAAAB1A/OyCll25v9D4/s1600/15800768100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3Vpn_HltOI/TkZnUjLC34I/AAAAAAAAB1A/OyCll25v9D4/s400/15800768100.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bwl33WaVHJo/TkZmb4WauXI/AAAAAAAAB0s/Rwouy8a_GhM/s1600/15800730886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bwl33WaVHJo/TkZmb4WauXI/AAAAAAAAB0s/Rwouy8a_GhM/s400/15800730886.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hojxerLaN0c/TkZnBSGqRHI/AAAAAAAAB00/gjBOreVa5sE/s1600/15800756526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hojxerLaN0c/TkZnBSGqRHI/AAAAAAAAB00/gjBOreVa5sE/s400/15800756526.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><br />
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<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-52358717522470723352011-08-07T23:29:00.006-04:002011-08-10T13:22:41.942-04:00Recycled Yard Art<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first Saturday of every month, our Goodwill has everything for half off.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since I couldn't find any yard sales this weekend, I popped over for the big sale and picked up a bunch of random glass pieces.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-neShaVj66HI/Tj9Rk8ztWiI/AAAAAAAABz0/KArn0EXHL0E/s1600/15709144779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-neShaVj66HI/Tj9Rk8ztWiI/AAAAAAAABz0/KArn0EXHL0E/s400/15709144779.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's take a step back...there is a booth at The Emporium, where my booth is, that has a few if these really awesome yard art sculptures made from recycled glass pieces.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I always stop by and stare at them! They charge $15 each, which I think is completely reasonable...I just haven't been able to afford that right now.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So.....when I was at the Goodwill it occurred to me that I could make one or two myself and save some money. I already had the glass glue on hand.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The best part of all this, Doodle actually was excited to help!!!!! As any tween girl's mom knows....this is a HUGE deal! ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, we grabbed pieces like this old light shade....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SalmJhautP8/Tj9SBt7OFVI/AAAAAAAABz4/zDS9MO-R28g/s1600/15709188117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SalmJhautP8/Tj9SBt7OFVI/AAAAAAAABz4/zDS9MO-R28g/s320/15709188117.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and little juice glasses....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zOEqxNmdhPA/Tj9Sqhsl1EI/AAAAAAAABz8/9rwqKzjJDLQ/s1600/15709236211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zOEqxNmdhPA/Tj9Sqhsl1EI/AAAAAAAABz8/9rwqKzjJDLQ/s400/15709236211.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And some colored glass, that ironically was a bonus! I was just buying the container...had no idea we'd end up using the beads inside! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bkb4BlSaueU/Tj9RLpljYiI/AAAAAAAABzw/E7mniOauo_I/s1600/15709120856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bkb4BlSaueU/Tj9RLpljYiI/AAAAAAAABzw/E7mniOauo_I/s320/15709120856.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And this is what we ended up with! This one is mine....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-57GnBWqFyzk/Tj9P06KAI3I/AAAAAAAABzg/wpIjH8z6P3c/s1600/15709020563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-57GnBWqFyzk/Tj9P06KAI3I/AAAAAAAABzg/wpIjH8z6P3c/s400/15709020563.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here is the Doodle's....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wU6fzCyyhmw/Tj9PeZAlC2I/AAAAAAAABzU/-iggYUW5Xtw/s1600/15709003118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wU6fzCyyhmw/Tj9PeZAlC2I/AAAAAAAABzU/-iggYUW5Xtw/s400/15709003118.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How stinkin' cute are these?!? We are both pretty proud of how these turned out.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ose2CXJ4JQ4/Tj9Q1vuFmVI/AAAAAAAABzs/iE_FgjJFAVo/s1600/15709102031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ose2CXJ4JQ4/Tj9Q1vuFmVI/AAAAAAAABzs/iE_FgjJFAVo/s400/15709102031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They sparkle so pretty in the garden!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySVekc8grUE/Tj9QK_ptmxI/AAAAAAAABzk/VO5Ky626RB4/s1600/15709042788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySVekc8grUE/Tj9QK_ptmxI/AAAAAAAABzk/VO5Ky626RB4/s400/15709042788.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can insert a wooden dowel into the ground and into the vase portion for stability if you need to.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wrBBS0qkzI/Tj9QiHU4CfI/AAAAAAAABzo/r8JMfi3Xcj0/s1600/15709081114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wrBBS0qkzI/Tj9QiHU4CfI/AAAAAAAABzo/r8JMfi3Xcj0/s400/15709081114.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMUbWlHaxB0/Tj9PKWmqlXI/AAAAAAAABzQ/SdB2hJsJV6k/s1600/15708981804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMUbWlHaxB0/Tj9PKWmqlXI/AAAAAAAABzQ/SdB2hJsJV6k/s400/15708981804.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNQiEG9NU9g/Tj9O589xvPI/AAAAAAAABzM/vj8_-g6cEns/s1600/15708956751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNQiEG9NU9g/Tj9O589xvPI/AAAAAAAABzM/vj8_-g6cEns/s400/15708956751.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not actually displaying them together like this, I plan to spread them out...but I wanted to get a shot of them outside to show them side by side.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ose2CXJ4JQ4/Tj9Q1vuFmVI/AAAAAAAABzs/iE_FgjJFAVo/s1600/15709102031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ose2CXJ4JQ4/Tj9Q1vuFmVI/AAAAAAAABzs/iE_FgjJFAVo/s400/15709102031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMUbWlHaxB0/Tj9PKWmqlXI/AAAAAAAABzQ/SdB2hJsJV6k/s1600/15708981804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMUbWlHaxB0/Tj9PKWmqlXI/AAAAAAAABzQ/SdB2hJsJV6k/s400/15708981804.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNQiEG9NU9g/Tj9O589xvPI/AAAAAAAABzM/vj8_-g6cEns/s1600/15708956751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNQiEG9NU9g/Tj9O589xvPI/AAAAAAAABzM/vj8_-g6cEns/s400/15708956751.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, the price is dependent on your glassware choices. These came in at around $3 each. Not bad, huh?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll be posting this project at these linky parties! :)</span><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x908CSKJhI4/TPp5U0929OI/AAAAAAAAU9w/dCqnDBWHD8U/s400/Chair%2Bon%2Bright%2Blike%2Bheader.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></center></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-6652930381276435232011-08-05T22:26:00.000-04:002011-08-05T22:26:41.830-04:00It's a Sign<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I made my very first sign!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkgnOWMek1I/TjyeLYVYieI/AAAAAAAABy4/b8mwB6RJdos/s1600/15671752974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkgnOWMek1I/TjyeLYVYieI/AAAAAAAABy4/b8mwB6RJdos/s640/15671752974.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I see so many signs in blogland and I have been dying to try my hand at making some for a long time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found these signs at the Dollar Tree.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5vetQBPnN5I/TjyevpxtfDI/AAAAAAAABy8/iZsYdYQL_DQ/s1600/15671791946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5vetQBPnN5I/TjyevpxtfDI/AAAAAAAABy8/iZsYdYQL_DQ/s400/15671791946.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I primed it with spray paint first to cover the stuff that was on it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, I used several different kinds of craft paint to make the lovely gray color it turned out with. Painting it gray, the watering down some white and wiping it over the wood. Then, some watered down light gray and mixed that with some black....basically I just layered on colors.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, onto the stencil....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkgnOWMek1I/TjyeLYVYieI/AAAAAAAABy4/b8mwB6RJdos/s1600/15671752974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkgnOWMek1I/TjyeLYVYieI/AAAAAAAABy4/b8mwB6RJdos/s400/15671752974.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been talking to Mel from <a href="http://junkinjunky.blogspot.com/">Junkin' Junky</a> (if you don't follow Mel, go check her out, she is super mega talented and not to mention a sweetheart too) about sign making and how she goes about making hers. We talked about how she uses her Cricut to sometimes use vinyl to make the words and sometimes she uses vinyl to make a stencil.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We both agree that vinyl is so stinkin' expensive! So, I was looking for any alternative before resigning to using vinyl. I asked her about freezer paper, she said I could use that or I could use shelf liner. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tried using freezer paper first because it's what I had on hand. It cut on the Cricut just fine. But it is so flimsy I didn't feel like it made a good stencil.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I forgot to pick up shelf liner at the store and being desperate to make a sign...I tried using some glossy photo paper I had on hand. It worked like a DREAM!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I can't wait to make more signs!! Seriously, it might be my new craft addiction. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took this one to the booth/boutique/wall. ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8L6UXwfGWss/Tjyf98VmvRI/AAAAAAAABzE/0w7vBrFH6Iw/s1600/15671869719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8L6UXwfGWss/Tjyf98VmvRI/AAAAAAAABzE/0w7vBrFH6Iw/s400/15671869719.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also took some plaques to the booth today.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1g_OxJyVeA/TjyfS9Sj7KI/AAAAAAAABzA/f0rdbklds04/s1600/15671821977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1g_OxJyVeA/TjyfS9Sj7KI/AAAAAAAABzA/f0rdbklds04/s400/15671821977.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really do think <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2011/05/no-soliciting.html">my "No Soliciting" sign</a> is working! I haven't had a solicitor in a long time. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" /> .http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com76tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-11071467793923070402011-08-02T16:00:00.000-04:002011-08-02T16:00:58.605-04:00The Booth is Open!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday was the day!! Opening day!! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I enjoyed setting up my "wall" so much.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took Doodle with me to sign the contract and show her the booth. Standing in front of my new wall, the conversation went like this...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doodle - "So, you aren't getting one of these big ones, you just get this wall with holes?"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me - "Yes, for now. I might get a bigger, open booth down the road."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doodle - "Hmmmm."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the way home....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me - "I'm going to come back later to set everything up and decorate my booth."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doodle - "It's not a booth...it's a wall."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much for support from my kid. LOL </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So.....being the smarta$$ I am (wonder where my kid gets it, LOL), I am now referring to my <strike>wall</strike> booth with grandiose terms such as "My Boutique", "My Shop", "My Storefront", etc. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are not the greatest pictures, I had to use flash and it was closing time, oh yeah, and there's the fact that I don't take the best pictures under normal conditions. LOL But I was able to snap some pictures really quick to show you.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4br-5uU-6w/TjgsinyWIFI/AAAAAAAABxs/OCOH7AlxLcE/s1600/15609221970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4br-5uU-6w/TjgsinyWIFI/AAAAAAAABxs/OCOH7AlxLcE/s400/15609221970.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A5xTmrgu6wQ/TjhFM8_EXTI/AAAAAAAAByA/HWQCfzRwJrs/s1600/15611021774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A5xTmrgu6wQ/TjhFM8_EXTI/AAAAAAAAByA/HWQCfzRwJrs/s400/15611021774.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fh9surN1cmQ/TjhEO9bEimI/AAAAAAAABx4/MdCE6Tv7vyo/s1600/15610954608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fh9surN1cmQ/TjhEO9bEimI/AAAAAAAABx4/MdCE6Tv7vyo/s400/15610954608.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYTn2zEaWkY/TjhEv9KxVVI/AAAAAAAABx8/XV3MyS4XhQc/s1600/15610987455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYTn2zEaWkY/TjhEv9KxVVI/AAAAAAAABx8/XV3MyS4XhQc/s400/15610987455.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SE7uuVh4vrU/TjhFxdvIZOI/AAAAAAAAByI/geocwX2lPUM/s1600/15611067836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SE7uuVh4vrU/TjhFxdvIZOI/AAAAAAAAByI/geocwX2lPUM/s400/15611067836.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was not loving the red when I agreed to this space. I figured I would ask if I could paint it in a month or two....but for now, I'm kind of liking it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I need to cover that wonderful, plastic opening at the bottom. I'm thinking some burlap or something along those lines...a curtain anyway.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I'm going to make a burlap pennant to hang at the very top of the "wall" to give it some texture and fill in that space.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the items I have for sale are leftovers from my last craft show...which, oh yeah, was EVERYTHING. LOL </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of them are things I used to use in my own home. And many others are my creations or upcycles.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used old barn wood my friend gave me for my shelves. And I painted some old Goodwill shelves. And like this one, I added trim and embellishments.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yEPyvZUnn0A/TjhRT-vycLI/AAAAAAAAByg/V2eE4QOyh6Y/s1600/15611969479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yEPyvZUnn0A/TjhRT-vycLI/AAAAAAAAByg/V2eE4QOyh6Y/s400/15611969479.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I upcycled things like this small cabinet....which someday I will show you the before, but I'm working on my brand new laptop today and <strike>am too lazy to get</strike> didn't have access to my old pictures for this post.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SyjjABy7Mzo/TjhSIHlKC8I/AAAAAAAAByo/p6Baih9IZWw/s1600/15612045171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SyjjABy7Mzo/TjhSIHlKC8I/AAAAAAAAByo/p6Baih9IZWw/s400/15612045171.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I started from unfinished wood on pieces like these little boxes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw6XGlI4-U4/TjhQW_-bplI/AAAAAAAAByY/Vqf5kllMoms/s1600/15611899846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw6XGlI4-U4/TjhQW_-bplI/AAAAAAAAByY/Vqf5kllMoms/s400/15611899846.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5TRHTeTzak/TjhTSTqaY1I/AAAAAAAAByw/YJWplALduRk/s1600/15612139324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5TRHTeTzak/TjhTSTqaY1I/AAAAAAAAByw/YJWplALduRk/s400/15612139324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Painted old ugly brass lamps to make cute new lamps.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTMJN9-5NiU/TjhRuJeJxtI/AAAAAAAAByk/KMzedl65R6Q/s1600/15612007940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTMJN9-5NiU/TjhRuJeJxtI/AAAAAAAAByk/KMzedl65R6Q/s400/15612007940.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembled and painted wood picture/recipe holders.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i5DAebSfeJA/TjhSzmVm3HI/AAAAAAAABys/wFDAHdZb3dw/s1600/15612101432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i5DAebSfeJA/TjhSzmVm3HI/AAAAAAAABys/wFDAHdZb3dw/s320/15612101432.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And glued and painted other upcycled Goodwill finds.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSzm2HyBPQQ/TjhPpJtUpzI/AAAAAAAAByU/HYSWi_i3S8E/s1600/15611840081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSzm2HyBPQQ/TjhPpJtUpzI/AAAAAAAAByU/HYSWi_i3S8E/s320/15611840081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a reminder, for any locals. My new "boutique" is at:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>County Line Emporium</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1285 N. State Rd 135</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Greenwood, IN 46143</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm so stinkin' excited about this opportunity, I think I've got a perma-smile on! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><i>And thank you so much to all you and your support!! Without some of you, I probably never would have built up the courage to make this step!!!</i></b></span></div><br />
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<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-56138306332345734042011-07-29T08:00:00.001-04:002011-07-29T08:00:02.069-04:00HUGE Announcement<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soooo......are you wondering what my huge announcement is??</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mean, I've announced losing my job.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've announced I'm going back to school full time to become an Interior Designer...which by the way starts August 22nd! More of that to come.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've announced I'm becoming certified to be a Foster Parent.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What else could I possible drop on you??</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well.......on Monday, August 1st......I am FINALLY taking the plunge and opening a small booth space (actually, it's only a wall space to start) to sell my upcycled and hand crafted items!!!! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not sure what to call it....I guess Flea Market would be the best description. But it has nicer booths, not all junk like most flea markets I go to. The owners make sure the booths are maintained, not just stuff thrown in. Lots of home decor, antiques, crafts, clothes, scrapbook supplies, and lots more. I think its the right home for me...as I wasn't sure an antique store was.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been looking for a spot for close to a year that was reasonably priced, gets enough traffic, not terribly far from my home, where my items would seem at home.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Emporium came highly recommended, so I went out to take a look and immediately knew it was exactly what I had been searching for!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I talked to a couple vendors that have been there for several years and only had good things to say about it. The large booths are full for now. I went on the waiting list and figured a wall space would give me a feel for whether I want to take on a full booth when one opens up. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The booth is at:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>County Line Emporium</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1285 N. State Rd 135</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Greenwood, IN 46143</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I'll post pictures when I get it all set up. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I am SOOOOO stinkin' excited about this I just can't tell you! I've mentioned before, I am taking my unemployment as an opportunity to explore all my dreams!! This, I think, was the last one on the list. Well, an Etsy shop is on the list, but that's just sort of an extension of the retail space...in my mind anyway. I didn't expect to do them all at once...but that's how I work. Think, think, think, think, think some more.....flip it over, draw a chart....think some more......then.....JUMP IN with both feet! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">So, there you have it....my HUGE news!! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I hope you all have a great weekend!! I will be finishing up some last minute projects. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><br />
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<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-76434803426614376492011-07-27T21:12:00.000-04:002011-07-27T21:12:51.722-04:00Personal Gift<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last month was my birthday.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone tells me I'm hard to buy for...which I never understand. I think I'm fairly easy. A candle or a magazine and I'm in heaven. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But this year I received a gift so personal and so wonderful I can't believe it's taken me this long to post about it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm a purse girl!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The more unique the better for me. I'm not into Coach or Dooney and Burke or any of those other big name brands. I just want BIG, unique and fun. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I showed you before, <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-favorite-things-its-party.html">here</a>, the purse I had been carrying for the last year was this one I purchased off <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/atouchofstardust?ref=pr_shop_more">Etsy</a>...which I have adored and has held up extremely well!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Tjl0rqWzSA/TjCqh1PxlxI/AAAAAAAABxA/719w4yYCoFU/s1600/My+purse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Tjl0rqWzSA/TjCqh1PxlxI/AAAAAAAABxA/719w4yYCoFU/s1600/My+purse.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was starting to get the itch for a new purse. I mean, being the serious bag girl that I am, me carrying the same purse for an entire YEAR is really saying something about how much I loved my handmade bag.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So....after my long story before the story, LOL, let me share with you about my very personal gift I received for my birthday.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A new purse!!!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uq6ZNAW6OOE/TjCuC4EuIvI/AAAAAAAABxE/ItySSYnastU/s1600/15503989518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uq6ZNAW6OOE/TjCuC4EuIvI/AAAAAAAABxE/ItySSYnastU/s400/15503989518.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But not just any purse. Nope. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>This purse was purchased at a Cancer fund raiser event. </b> As I just mentioned this weekend in my get-to-know-me award post....my mother died of breast cancer. What I didn't mention is....my father also died of cancer. And my step-mom was diagnosed with Stage ZERO breast cancer in January of this year. (As a side note, it was caught SOOO early, they removed the lump, she did radiation, and has been given a clean bill of health since!!)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENK6iTPPg6k/TjCu8lGTYLI/AAAAAAAABxM/2WxEtMpjP5s/s1600/15504048122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENK6iTPPg6k/TjCu8lGTYLI/AAAAAAAABxM/2WxEtMpjP5s/s400/15504048122.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>This purse is made of ALL recycled materials!! </b> Recycling is so near and dear to my heart. I mentioned, <a href="http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/search/label/Recycling">here</a>, a long time ago that I pay for curbside recycling and it has made my strong urge to be kind to our Earth so much easier. It's also why I try to upcycle as much as I can. I want to stop buying "Made in China" as much as possible and reuse items that might otherwise end up in a landfill.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This purse has old couch fabrics, drapery fabrics, the flowers are made from old sweaters and t-shirts, and the leaves are made from, get this, old dress slips! I remember the days of wearing slips under your dress. Sad...but true. LOL There's even an old skinny tie from the 80's on the front. :)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXBwhqc9EPc/TjCufHtVJiI/AAAAAAAABxI/yisSbHj6fZ4/s1600/15504019624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXBwhqc9EPc/TjCufHtVJiI/AAAAAAAABxI/yisSbHj6fZ4/s400/15504019624.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>This bag is handmade! </b> Being a crafter myself, I try to support other crafters as much as possible as well. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sSizqhPrKts/TjCvVSoEADI/AAAAAAAABxQ/xyZd5rL5XeI/s1600/15504074919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sSizqhPrKts/TjCvVSoEADI/AAAAAAAABxQ/xyZd5rL5XeI/s400/15504074919.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And last but not least, <b>the proceeds from purchases at the event, goes to the charity the event is being held for!!! </b>The company is called "<a href="http://www.handbagsforhealing.com/">Handbags for Healing</a>". The way I understand it is, they will set up a booth at charity fundraisers and give the proceeds to that charity. So, it isn't any one charity...it can be a variety of charities. How cool is that! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the things I don't talk about here on the blog is how important my volunteer work is to me!! Once a week, I spend 2 hours with the kids at a local Women/Children's homeless shelter. And once a month, my daughter and I serve dinner there as well. Those 2 hours with those precious children is the highlight of my week!!! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4gCEmI-GMM/TjCvxEeEa2I/AAAAAAAABxU/nwVY0_OyG-M/s1600/15504104552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4gCEmI-GMM/TjCvxEeEa2I/AAAAAAAABxU/nwVY0_OyG-M/s400/15504104552.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's what makes this gift the most personal gift I've ever received! The person who got me this purse knew that each piece of this bags story was inline with my own story.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong, I have received amazing gifts over the years, but everything about this bag is such a personal representation of ME!! How sweet is that!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you are all having a great week!! I have a huge announcement to make later this week....so stay tuned. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" />.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179744918463362928.post-64791420897213677682011-07-22T23:41:00.000-04:002011-07-22T23:41:46.822-04:00Blog Awards<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I received a couple blog awards that I accepted way too long ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been SOOOO stinkin' hot here in Indy the last few days that I've been stuck inside, so I decided it was a good time to do some blog catch up. And one of those things is accepting these gracious awards!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tracy at <a href="http://the2010shousewife.blogspot.com/">The 2010's Housewife</a> gave me the Sunshine Award!! Although it's taken me for.ev.er to accept, I absolutely appreciate her kindness in giving me this award!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--E5lWJSpAMQ/Th0AnICtxMI/AAAAAAAABw4/_cV2yKBOC-8/s1600/sunshineblogaward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--E5lWJSpAMQ/Th0AnICtxMI/AAAAAAAABw4/_cV2yKBOC-8/s1600/sunshineblogaward.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is what I found about The Sunshine Award. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blog world. I'm happy to pass it on to a few of my favorite bloggers.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the rules:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">• Put the Logo on your sidebar, or within a post.<br />
• Pass the award onto 12 Bloggers<br />
• Link the nominees within your post.<br />
• Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.<br />
• Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soooo....without further ado. The 12 Bloggers I am passing this award onto are:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. <a href="http://itsy-bits-and-pieces.blogspot.com/">Itsy Bits and Pieces </a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. <a href="http://junkinjunky.blogspot.com/">Junkin' Junky</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. <a href="http://carolynshomework.blogspot.com/">Homework</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. <a href="http://www.tatteredandtimeless.com/">Home for 6</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. <a href="http://bet1975.blogspot.com/">Don't Disturb This Groove</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. <a href="http://chrissiescollections.blogspot.com/">Chrissie's Collections</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. <a href="http://thepolkadotcloset.blogspot.com/">The Polka Dot Cottage</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. <a href="http://keepnthesunnyside.blogspot.com/">Keep'n The Sunny Side</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. <a href="http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.com/">Modern Country Style</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. <a href="http://lmunroe.blogspot.com/">Tattered Hydrangeas</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11. <a href="http://thatsmyletter.blogspot.com/">That's My Letter</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12. <a href="http://beautifulnest.blogspot.com/">Beautiful Nest</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you so much Tracy for giving me this award!! </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">You can visit Tracy's blog here:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a border="0" href="http://www.blogger.com/www.the2010shousewife.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h388/2010housewife/Blogbutton150.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">************************* </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, the next one is just down right embarrassing to admit.....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beth at <a href="http://myserendipity-beth.blogspot.com/">My Serendipity</a> gave me the Stylish Blogger Award in FEBRUARY!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N7uNUmMaFJw/Th0HuCulaiI/AAAAAAAABw8/y4rDPvUj4wM/s1600/stylish+award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N7uNUmMaFJw/Th0HuCulaiI/AAAAAAAABw8/y4rDPvUj4wM/s1600/stylish+award.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm SOOOO sorry Beth! My daughter would tell you this is common for me. I always have the best intentions, but I am extremely forgetful and then get too much on my plate, then my brain does a data dump....but thank goodness my email doesn't. ;) </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anywho....it's really, really, REALLY late...but THANK YOU <a href="http://myserendipity-beth.blogspot.com/">BETH</a>!! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Ok..now for the rules.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;">I am supposed to list 7 things about myself to help you get to know me better. Then pass this award on to 15 inspiring other blogs..which is the difficult part! Not that there aren't 15 inspiring blogs that I follow but because there are sooooo many blogs I love and follow!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;">Now for the 7 totally random things about myself:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;">1. I am completely addicted to magazines! Home decor magazines that is. I have them stashed all over my house....under the bed, in baskets, on shelves, etc. "Do It Yourself" is my favorite, but I have PLENTY more. And I actually know when my addiction started........</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;">2. My mom died of breast cancer when I was 10 years old. My dad was quite the redneck who knew nothing about raising little girls...and my Granny didn't know much more. Magazines like Cosmopolitan and Glamour became my go to for make-up, style, and all-things-girly tips. I had years worth, lined in date order in my closet for as long as I can remember. (Now you know why I'm so messed up! LOLOL) ;)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;">3. I'd LOVE to be a writer someday! I'd love to write for, I know you're going to be shocked, a design magazine. :) I'd also love to write a comedy book about my </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">crazy childhood.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">4. My favorite place in the entire world is the Amalfi Coast in Italy!! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">5. Given the alternative, I'd rather sit by the pool than sit on the beach. I hate the feeling of the sand on my skin...which is strange given I was born and raised in Florida! My ultimate choice would be to sit by a pool while looking at the beach. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">6. I actually enjoy getting older. For one, given my mom and dad's early deaths, I consider getting older a privilege. I mean, consider the alternative...dying early? I'll pass. Two...as I age, I get more and more comfortable with who I am! There is so much peace in that. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">7. I love to bake! I'm a marginal cook, but I'm a pretty awesome baker if I don't say so myself. ;) </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">And now to the most important part of this award....passing it along! :)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">1. <a href="http://ajaleesweetlife.blogspot.com/">Aja Lee's Sweet Life</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">2. <a href="http://amcinnisartworks.blogspot.com/">A. McInnis Artworks</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">3. <a href="http://bunchofcraft.blogspot.com/">Bunch of Craft</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">4. <a href="http://cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/">Cedar Hill Ranch</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">5. <a href="http://www.classiccasualhome.com/">Classic*Casual*Home</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">6. <a href="http://theprincessandthemoose.blogspot.com/">Creating Balance</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">7. <a href="http://customcomforts.blogspot.com/">Custom Comforts</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">8. <a href="http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/">Mod Vintage Life</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">9. <a href="http://apopofpretty.com/">A Pop of Pretty</a> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">10. <a href="http://refunkmyjunk.blogspot.com/">Refunk My Junk</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">11. <a href="http://relovedrubbish.blogspot.com/">Reloved Rubbish</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">12. <a href="http://thecottagegals.blogspot.com/">The Cottage Gals</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">13. <a href="http://theshabbychick.blogspot.com/">The Shabby Chick</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">14. <a href="http://thenshemade.blogspot.com/">Then She Made...</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">15. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://themoderncottagecompany.blogspot.com/">The Modern Cottage</a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Again, thank you to those that honored me with these awards! I truly do appreciate it. :) </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I hope you will take some time to visit each of the nominated blogs...these are some of my favorite blogs. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f372f; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BeautyFunction/ErinSignature2.png" /></div>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00227925128508137750noreply@blogger.com13