Wednesday, March 28, 2012

The Empty Wall

So there is this rather large and very empty wall in our new home that is driving me crazy.  It is on the main floor of the house between the front section of the house (entryway, office, Cooper's room) and the great room, also right at the top of the stairs that go down to the basement level.  So you could say that it's located in a high traffic area of the house, in a location that I have to view about a million times each day.  It taunts me all day every day.  "Look at me, I'm empty and barren and boring to look at.  Why don't you get creative and put something on me?  Na-na-na-boo-boo!"  The wall is also quite immature.

The Empty Wall
Problem is this - I have no clue what to put there.  The built-in cabinets are directly beside the empty wall and I have already created a large photo display there so I feel like hanging photos would be redundant.  On the other side of the fireplace on that same wall there are canvases and a mirror so those are out too.  I suppose that shelves would suffice but they would need to be large enough to occupy that space and then what would I put on them?  I already have vases and photos all over that room.  Furniture there would be tricky due to the fact that it's at the top of the staircase and there isn't much space width/depth wise.  I have length and height to work with but not much depth.

Full view of the wall from the kitchen area.
I can't take it much longer.  That wall has been sticking it's tongue out at me every day for the past 4 months.  Aside from not being able to find gray slipcovers for the sofa and loveseat that wall is the most difficult and challenging design task that I have faced in this house.  Why can't I think of something - anything - to put on that darn wall????  Stupid wall.
I feel like more pictures here would be overkill.
Other options???
If anyone out there would like offer their design expertise I am ready for suggestions!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Pinterest Projects

Ahhhhhh Pinterest!  What would I do without you and your endless ideas and inspiration for home decor that I can't afford, birthday parties that are way out of my league in terms of budget and DIY craftiness, recipes I'll never get around to making, clever quotes that I'm not clever enough to think of myself, and last but certainly not least - wardrobes that will never hang in my closet?  Ahhhhh!


But what fun you are.  I've already lost hours of my life to you.  I have totally cheated on Facebook with you.  On occasion I have even briefly neglected my children and husband for you (as for housework, it's been way more often and not so briefly).  A few times all of this has actually ended with the completion of a project that I found on you.

Even if I had all of the time, money, energy, determination and craftiness in the world it still wouldn't be enough for me to make all of my pins reality.  But here are the few, small Pinterest projects that have become real, completed ones!

Project #1
Easter "wreath"  - Pinterest version.

Easter "wreath" - my version.
This was my 1st Pinterest Project that I completed last year at this time!

Project #2
St. Patrick's Day wreath - Pinterest version.

St. Patrick's Day wreath - my version.

Project #3
Wall plaque photo "frames" - Pinterest version.

Wall plaque photo "frames" - my version.
I joined Pinterest about a year ago so you'd think that in that time I would/could have completed more projects than just these 3 simple ones, but what can I say - life gets in the way sometimes!  Of course, it doesn't get in the way of me sitting in front of the computer for hours at a time until my eyes can barely move and I'm drooling ever so slightly as I gaze at photo after photo on Pinterest, but it does get in the way of me actually getting up out of this chair and DOING the projects:)

In my defense I will say that I have tried a few recipes found on Pinterest and some of the decor in our new home was inspired by photos on Pinterest, but as far as actual DIY projects these are the only ones that I have done.  For now.  But I've got lots of pins to turn into reality so be on the lookout for more soon!  I'm coming for ya Pinterest!

Check out my boards here.


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Party On...and on and on!



So I think that you all know by now that I have a slight obsession with party planning.  Okay, so maybe it's a tad bit more than slight.  I swear that I really don't sit around day in and day out obsessing over party themes.  They just seem to come to me  - mostly via Facebook and blog posts.  When you "like" the Facebook pages of beings such as Amy Atlas, The TomKat Studio, AndersRuff and Hostess with the Mostess it's impossible not to be constantly bombarded with neverending party ideas, photos and inspiration.  Add their blogs to the mix and it's pretty much party heaven.

Once again I find my brain swimming with party ideas and themes even though we don't have any birthdays to celebrate in our family until June.  Not only has that theme been chosen since December, but I also have theme ideas for the little guy's birthday in November and for Rylee's 7th birthday in January.  As in 2013.  Even I think that is a bit extreme.

Since I have all of these great party themes and ideas floating around in my head but I have only 3 children who each have only 1 birthday a year, I thought that it would be fun to start sharing some of these themes with others so that just maybe someone else can use them.  Unless we start celebrating 1/2 birthdays and unbirthdays I don't think there's any way possible that we could ever use them all!

I'm going to share 3 party themes each time I write one of these "party posts" so here are the first 3 of my Party Picks!


Sunshine party from Amy Atlas.
Click here for full details.

Up, Up and Away party from AndersRuff.
Click here for full details.

Vintage Carnival party from Hostess with the Mostess.
Click here for full details.

These are just a few of the amazing parties that I have seen recently.  Stay tuned for more great ideas and lots of inspiration!