A couple primitives

I like primitive pieces. I don't generally paint them, maybe because I just haven't found them to paint, but I found a couple a few weeks ago. They came from a garage sale. And coincindentally I knew the person that was selling them, but didn't know I knew the person! Lost you yet?

I was recognized at a garage sale last week! How fun is that?! It made me totally embarrassed and I got all flustered and red in the face, and my words came out sounding like a crazy fool, I'm pretty sure. So, Pam, I'm sorry I sounded like a crazy person!

Last year I bought a table from my favorite restaurant in town that closed. I love this table. It was their bussing table.

I took it from this:

To this:

I love this little table. It sits in our master bedroom. It reminds me of when we first moved here and how we knew no one, but we would go into this little place and feel safe and at home. They were so kind in there. And the food! Soooo good!

Off track. Back on. So, Pam had a few items at a garage sale (it wasn't her sale), she recognized me and we talked, and I got embarrassed, and you know the rest.

So, I grabbed two tables from her.

Rustic, shabby, there may have been some paper doilies in the drawers and possibly some hay too.

I took the longer one and spray painted her white, added some wax, and put on some new pulls. She turned out amazing! And she has a new home.

(Anyone need a toaster oven?)

And the smaller one I just adore. I painted her Old White (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint) and painted the drawers Duck Egg Blue (Annie Sloan too). Then distressed, waxed and wiped.  I love how the Annie Sloan paint sands. I used a 150 grit sand paper, just in case you were wondering. It gets so smooth! Love, love, love.

Such a great piece! Thanks Pam for selling them to me!

A few more questions answered!

It's the Ides of March. Thank you to my Latin teachers in high school (4 years, thankyouverymuch) for helping me remember this day forever.

Oh, guilt. I knew a little whining and guilt would bring you out! Don't be shy! I eventually get back to you. I'm a friendly sort of gal, I think! Don't worry about asking dumb questions or making dumb comments....I do it every.single.day. It's true. Sometimes I want to knock my head against a wall for embarrassing myself so often....

So, I got a few more responses with some more questions, so I thought I would answer them!

Can you walk us through the steps in how you paint?

Yes I can. Maybe I'll do a video!

Say...if it previously had paint on it, do you strip it or sand it? or just prime and go?

I don't typically strip paint off unless it is really, really bad, or I am going to stain the top. I don't want to mess with the previous paint, mainly because I have no idea how old it is and what kind of paint it was. I usually just work with what I've got. Sometimes I will sand things if they have a bunch of gunk and crap on the top, but I like pieces that have "stories". I'm all about the stories. If it's old, and there are layers of paint, I won't do anything but run some sandpaper over it to smooth things out, then paint. Sometimes I don't even prime! Most of the time I do though.

What about if it's wood and not painted before?

It really depends on the wood. Sometimes I don't want the white primer to come through when I distress it, so I won't prime it. If there is some serious glossy shine to it, then I will prime it, lightly sand the primer smooth, wipe the dust off and then paint.

Do you strip the stain off? 

Nope, no stripping of stain. If I am going to re-stain it, I use my belt sander or my palm sander. I'm about to go and buy an orbital sander because they are better. If I am just going to paint it, I usually prime and then paint.

and then....do you mostly spray or brush? 

I mostly spray.  I like the convenience. It is so quick and the results are instant. I'm all about quick results. There are pieces that I know will look better with a brush on paint, I actually like the look of brushed on paint. I have a sprayer that hooks up to our air compressor and I promised myself that this spring I would learn how to use it. So that's my goal.

Do you always prime? I want a good finish when I start doing this, one that won't scratch off (of course). 
I don't always prime. It depends on the piece and the look I want. If I want it to get more chippy and more distressed, I won't prime. If it's a piece that I know will accept paint easily, then I won't prime. It's hard to know. When in doubt, prime! Then sand the primer lightly and wipe off the dust before you start painting.

A few more!

1. what's your favorite camera lens?
I have one lens, my 18-55 mm that came with my Canon Digital Rebel XT. I would like a 35mm. I think that I would get some good furniture shots with that. And maybe the Canon 60d or 7d. I mean, mine is already out-dated. But, it works for us right now. A good cleaning would probably help!

2. what's your favorite blog to follow for DIYers
Mine. Duh! There are so many. I don't follow a ton of DIY blogs. I like to see before and afters, those are my favorites! 

3. what do you prefer: spray painting furniture or brush painting? 
I prefer to spray, for purely selfish reasons! It's quick and you get instant results.

4. what's your favorite brand of spray paint?
I generally only use Rustoleum. I love it. I use some colors in Krylon, but I just really like the coverage of Rustoleum and I can use my little hand sprayer that attaches to the can and it makes it easier on my arm.

5. what's your favorite brand of paint?
I like Behr paint and primer in one. I'm not really picky. I use a lot of oops paints. I really like Martha Stewart's samples! I've heard lots of great things about Sherwin Williams paint, but I've never used it.




6. do you still have dogs? i never hear about them!
Oh yes, we still have dogs. Rosie and Millie. The little rascals just ran outside, got all muddy, came in and ran all over my couch. Awesome.


There you have it. More answers to what you are dying to know. Thanks for letting me whine a little and giving in!

Ask Away....Session Two.

A fellow blogger and faithful reader posted many questions that warranted a single post. If you haven't read Kolein's blog, Kitchen Table Productions, go visit. She is quite witty and fun.

1. How are you liking your new 'old' hair color?
Umm....well, I liked it. And now I like it even more after we added some new highlights.

2. Has hubby gotten used to it or has he mistaken you for the cleaning lady?
He initially thought I was my sister visiting, but he got used to it.

3. So you have a cleaning lady?
No cleaning lady, although today I thought about getting one.


4. Do you ever eat dark chocolate?
Does semi-sweet chocolate count?

5. or drink coffee?
 No coffee. Only Diet Coke.

6. Do you like to laugh more OR engage in serious topics?
 Laugh. I don't feel educated enough to discuss serious world changing topics. Plus, I sit on the fence with most topics.

7. Your furniture painting business - did that just happen? Or was it a dream of yours?
It's always been something that I enjoy doing. We DIY a lot around here. Selling furniture just happened. This was the first piece I sold:

8. Is the home you live in your forever house?
Probably not. Hubby's job may move us at some point.

9. Do you live out in the country or in a neighborhood?
We live in Lake Country. It's a small town near a big town, the locals wouldn't call it a suburb, but I do. We have a neighborhood. And a McDonald's. What more do we need?

10. Do your boys go to school yet? I've forgotten their ages now...or home school??
Porter (5)goes to 4K. In the fall he will be in 5K, he has a September birthday. Jack will be 4 in April. And will go to Preschool starting this summer. And Gus will be 2 in May.

11. Do you have any girl friends who live nearby?
No, but my neighbors are okay. Nah, they are fantastic. And very good friends. I trust them with my life and my kids lives. And I talk to the BFF on a weekly basis.

12. Or family?
Nope. Tom's parents live 4 hours away and so we get to see them a couple times a month.

13. I love how you roll with it all...how do you do that?
I just do....see how that is done? Sometimes I'm really high strung. But, mostly I gave that up because of the kids. I have to be easy-going when I have milk flying across the room and dogs with anal glad issues and kids that like to eat....


14. I also love how you write. no apologies. ok that's not a question.
Thank you. As I mentioned before, I write and blog and do projects to keep me sane. It's my therapy. If people don't like it, then that's okay. I've had one nasty comment the entire time I've been blogging, and it was hurtful and mean and sad. And it made me angry and cry for several days. I decided then that I was going to keep going and do whatever I wanted just for me. I mean seriously, it's my blog! I'm not getting paid, I don't endorse anyone, although I would if they asked me...Howard's Feed and Wax....Home Depot...HGTV....

15. Do you ever, in your baby fever moments, wonder about having a girl?
All.The.Time.

16. Why did you name your furniture business - White Butterfly?
That's a good question. When I first started doing projects Tom started calling them my "Butterfly Projects" things would metamorphosis into new things, things around here are always changing and that's how it started. I picked the white part, well because I like to paint things...white.

17. Trying for 20 questions here....ummmmm...tap, tap, tap...I'll ask my boys.....here's what they asked:
7yo would like to know if we can come over some time? 10yo would like to know if your boys have legos?
You can come over anytime....as long as you bring those fantastic wooly sweaters...The boys do have legos. And they love them.

18. What is your favorite thing to do on a cloudy day in Wisco?
Go thrifting. Or read books with the boys. Or play Memory. Or make hot wheels tracks down the stairs...

19. you're at 501...I dropped from 67 to 66 and almost couldn't sleep...do you feel any pressure keeping your blog going?
Sometimes. I want people to like me! Duh. I have to remind myself that I write for me, not worry about numbers...not worry about being "Blog Prom Queen". It's no big deal. I do it because I like it. If I don't have a project or a funny story or I have nothing to say then I don't write. I think it's about having fun and enjoying what you are doing. . . I used to worry when people left. I don't anymore. People grab a few idea (hopefully not stealing them and calling them their own) and then they go. I'm okay with that. I'm not the type of blogger that says if I follow you, you must follow me. You like what you like when you like it. That's it.

and finally question #20 Does you dad blog?
He used to! He is an Ah-mazing writer. He should write more. He should blog more. If you click on Kinda Irish over there on the right, you can see his writing. He's actually a professional. Me, not so much!

Guess what?! A painted project tomorrow. Maybe I'll even have up an amazing Goodwill find!

Ask Away. Question and Answer Session with ME!

You know how if you have kind of a crappy day, sometimes it just explodes into a crap couple of days....but then fortunately it ends well...that has been the last few days for me....nothing major, just every day life crap that happened. Everything is good now! It's sunny!

Apparently this scheduled post didn't post as I scheduled it, so here it is now....enjoy. Thanks for all the questions!

So, here they are, the answers to the questions you asked....I'll split it up into two posts, because reading about me for two days is going to be super fun.
 
1. I was just wondering what your kids do while you are crafting/refabbing. I have only one three year old and I can't find time to do anything.
I usually do them in the afternoon when our youngest is napping. The other two play really well together and most days they play outside for a couple of hours, even in the snow, if they aren't outside playing then they are playing inside and I can quick run out to the garage for something or I paint right in our living room. Sometimes we craft together and they help me with stuff.

2. How did you get started selling your renovated furniture items? How did you know what to price the items? Do you have any advice for someone who might be thinking of doing the same?
We've always been a DIY family and quite frugal and I love getting a good deal! When we first moved to our little town two and a half years ago, I was pregnant and lonely and needed something to do, so I started scouring for cheap stuff and listed a chair and it sold within minutes....so that's how it started. Pricing first started by what I would pay for an item....I lost some money those first few items! Now, things are a little different. I price stuff based on recouping what I put into it and my time to fix it up...if I feel like it is too high, I mark it down a little. I never wanted to sell stuff that was ridiculously expensive that I myself couldn't afford it. Advice - just fix something up and list it on Craigslist and see what happens. Many of my neighbors have pieces of mine and word of mouth works wonders!

3. When will you be here with my chair? (Pick a chair, any chair.)
One day, when you least expect it, your chair will be there....


4. Have you ever had a bad experience with a customer?
Fortunately my bad experiences have been limited. No one has ever been upset with a piece.... that I know of...sometimes I have people say they want stuff and then ditch out on it and I have to walk in shame and relist it, but that happens. When I list stuff on Craig's List I get lots of spammers. That's frustrating, so I send them a very polite little note telling them that they are mean and nasty people to take advantage of others that way.... Once someone dropped off a deposit for a piece and never came back for it.


5. I'm a newer follower, so I may be out of the loop on this one...so you have three boys, are you done or do you want more??? The reason I ask this is because after having one boy (14 months) I absolutely LOVE boys and I say at this point that I want three or four kiddos, leaning towards four...but of course there's a long way to go to get to that point, ha!
I would love to have one more kiddo. They certainly are fun and exhausting and cute and frustrating, but mostly fun...I would really like a girl, but hubs isn't quite sold on one more....so we'll see.


6. Could you please deliver/ship your beautiful items to South Carolina??? :)
I am more than willing to ship! Most of the time when people find out the shipping costs, they cry....it's a tough one!

7. If you could change something about your house and/or yourself (money not an issue) what would it be?
My house, I would put hardwood floors in all over, bedrooms, hallways, living rooms, everywhere. And they would probably be recycled wood of some sort. Myself, eh, I'd really like to get Lasik!

8. Hey Kirsty! My question for you is how did you get started selling your furniture? Where do you sell it...Craigslist? Ebay? How do you advertise it besides your other blog? Thanks for being awesome...and for that amazing Carrot Cake recipe which i make ALL THE TIME!!!! Its so yumm.
I started by listing on Craigslist. I also did a bunch of stuff for some neighbors...word of mouth is amazing! I've got a Facebook page and I keep listing stuff on Craigslist which finds new customers. I'm a little nervous about doing too much, because my top priority right now is my boys, furniture is just an addition right now....when they are older, that will change. But I love being home with them and not having to "go to" work. Ex boyfriend carrot cake is the best, isn't it!

9. I love your blog. It always makes me laugh. I love the "realness". I'm a mom of three and drive an old "mommyvan"... So what kind of new van did you get and do you like it?
Thank you! We had a 2002 Town and Country and now we have a 2008 Town and Country. We had our van paid for and it had 140 thousand miles on it, we were going to drive it until it died, but I really needed something where I could configure the seats when transporting furniture and kids. The van we got has all the bells and whistles, so it's pretty fun. The first day we had it, I did a big furniture run and got three pieces of furniture in it without having to go home and take seats out and leave kids sitting in the driveway wondering when their mom would come back. It was awesome! I love it.


10. Where is a good place to find some fun, inexpensive fabric? And any tips for a first time furniture refinisher?
I get most of my fabric at JoAnn's using the 40 or 50% off. I hear that Calico Corners has good stuff and it's often on sale. I also know that Hobby Lobby has good stuff. But, those two places are an hour drive one way for me...so I don't go often. I like to use unconventional things too - curtains, drop clothes.....get creative. Tips - take a risk. Try something, if it doesn't work then you know for next time! I know you'll be surprised by this, but I make TONS of mistakes!


11. How do you get the old furniture smell/or rather old lady furniture smell out of dresser drawers?


I use a combination of fresh air, Mrs. Meyer's cleaner and fresh linen Lysol. The best thing for it is to leave it out in open air for a little while. You mean you don't like that smell?!

12. If I paint the inside of drawers won't the stuff inside of it stick to the paint?
You can paint the inside of the drawers and cabinets. I don't. But that's just my thing. Sometimes I do, I guess. But not if clothes are going to be in it, I don't want them to smell like paint.



13. Where are you originally from?
I'm originally from Bismarck, North Dakota. The best place to grow up in the entire world.

14. If someone dropped by your house unexpectedly what would they see?
This:

That's right.

15. Which of your sisters is your favorite?
How could I choose between two beautiful, kind and caring women?

16. How can you stand living so far away from her?
 And I say, move closer to me....

17. Hey, I just kinda stumbled onto your blog by accident but I really enjoy it. I've been doing a daily blog myself for the past few months and my wife sometimes gives me grief about spending too much time blogging. Not that it's really bad grief... more like Charlie Brown good grief. Does your husband ever give you this type of grief over your blogging? How long does it take to make a typical post on average?
No grief. He's a Saint. Although he doesn't read the blog either....
Depending on the topic it can take a couple of minutes to an hour. I try not to dwell on things. I proofread and edit (I also have a wonderful set of second and third eyes that send me messages if I've made a mistake..which I love, it helps so much to make me not look like a fool to the millions that read this). I don't dwell on questioning the post...I can't, I don't have time! Plus, if you've been reading for awhile, you'll know that I don't write to please. I write as therapy and because I have a crap memory and because I think the world revolves around me.....eh, er, not really....


18. This "BFF" you reference on occasion....is she real? If so, what it is about her that you just love/hate about her? 
This BFF is the real deal. We've been best friends since one fine day in the 8th grade. I don't hate a single thing about her - oh, except her biceps. They rock. And that she lives far away. That sucks. She is an amazingly strong and courageous woman.

How fun. More tomorrow! Specifically from a single reader....

Ask Away....

Someone pointed out that I was really close to 500 followers. Thank you all for following! It's so fun to hear from people, to answer your questions and to visit YOUR blogs if you have one.

I figure that since there are now 500 of you that follow and 751 subscribers, although, I don't really know what that means and I don't know the difference between the two and after I said the numbers someone will no doubt unfollow and unsubscribe! Anyway, it's time to do a little question and answer session I am going to call, "ASK AWAY."

I know you are out there....don't be shy...ask me anything...I will try and be honest and not exaggerate in the least. But lets keep it clean, my Dad reads this...you do, don't you Dad?

Please come out from behind the safety of your computer screen and ask me something. It can be about furniture, house stuff, cleaning, shopping, spending loads of money, saving money, running, dieting, getting along with my hubby, where I shop, whatever.....If no one asks me anything, I may cry. No, seriously, real tears. Even if you don't want to know something, just ask, so I feel good about myself.

And, no one better "unfollow" until this little session is over!

Post your questions in the comment section and I'll respond in a post on Monday. I'll give you until Sunday night to ask a question.

Ready....GO....

Happy Heart Day

Hugs and Kisses to you and yours. 

(Well, I won't kiss yours, but you know what I mean...)

May you feel so much love today and every day that your heart could just burst.

xoxo

Oops...

Please tell me this happens to you.


I'm painting trim. (Yes, STILL.)

I got a sample of wall paint to try in the bathroom to brighten things up.

I tried it. (I don't like it.)

I also don't like the builder mirrors.

I pulled on one of the little mirror nubs. It came off.  Easily.

There is no longer a mirror here.

I started to paint thinking maybe he won't notice that the mirror in front of his sink is missing. I mean, he's a guy, how often does he look in the mirror?!

The mirror is sitting in the bathtub....we don't use the tub anyway!

If you don't hear from me for a few days it's because he sent me to work with the traveling circus in China.

I'm not kidding.

Lord help my cabin fever.

Mom's aren't supposed to get sick

I had a stomach bug yesterday.

That sucked.

Tom even came home from work to help out.

Gus still scoured the house and climbed the stairs to find me. Every. single. second.

I still have that yucky feeling in my body, but, mom's don't get vacation. So, on we go.

Nothing got done yesterday, I didn't do the laundry, I didn't even clean the bathroom....oh wait. I never do that stuff.

We have a Christmas Party tomorrow night for Tom's work. I may have to skip. Except that I have a new dress...that I really want to wear and having the flu makes it fit so much better...

I'm going to crawl to the bus stop now.

And, eat something. Ugh.

Look at these cuties:

But, it's Friday! Happy Friday!

New Year, Same Me

I'm not going to do a resolution post. I did one last year. Last year I was a quitter. I'm okay with that, for last year. I don't want to be a quitter this year.

So, I'm going to do some things that I know I can do. I feel confident that I can accomplish. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing too challenging. Okay, maybe a little challenging...

Be kind. I'm kind, but I want to be more kind to others.

Read to my kids more and cuddle more. I mean, I do it so much now, they almost vomit from the snuggles. Might as well embarrass them too.

Read more. And more, and more. And not just my US Magazine and House Beautiful. Actual books. Like the one I read while on vacay....The Girls from Ames. Fantastic Book. Makes me miss my girls.

Bake more using my "new to me" Heavy Duty Kitchen Aid Mixer. That's right. You read that right. My MIL gave me her mixer with the intention that if she ever needs it back, we are super close (as in the same state) and she could get it back easily. It's Heavy Duty. And awesome. Can't wait to make something.

Spend more time doing and less time saying and planning and talking. Right? Do More.

Go on more dates with my hubby. Hello!

That's it. That's what I've got.

I've started a new Honey-Do list. You can follow that over there -->.

I have no idea how many furniture redo's will be done, how many miles I will run, how many blog posts I will do, but I vow to be in the here and now and spend more time doing and less time thinking about it and planning and talking.

See, I didn't give myself big goals or specific goals. Just ideas. Lots of ideas and planning and talking!! Ha, ha.

I didn't say I would give up Diet Coke, I mean really, everyone needs a vice, right. But, I'll drink less Diet Coke.

I didn't say I would run a marathon, because if I get hurt again this year I'll just be angry at myself for saying I would run it. But I may just run a half. Maybe. If I feel good.

See how I did that? Goals without stating actual goals. That's life.

Can't wait to see what happens.

All I want for Christmas.

This is a totally selfish post. I don't actually NEED any of these. Well, not all of them. I just really WANT them. A Lot. I love them all.

Dave Ramsey would have a fit.

Dear Santa,

Here are a few things that I dream of...

Canon EF 35mm f/2 Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

 

This was on my dream list last year. That's right, it's still there. I still love it.

Remember, I don't have a mixer, so I NEED this one:

Kitchenaid Artisan 5 qt Stand Mixer

It's for all that baking I do. The only problem would be deciding which color to get.

Because I just have to have a new tool and I don't have a drill all to myself:

 Makita Lithium Ion 18v Cordless Compact Drill

Of course I need new jeans to wear while baking and working in the garage. And I'm pretty sure if I had these jeans, my rear would have to look like this. This is my dream, so it totally would:

7 for All Mankind Gwenevere

And because I just can't stop dreaming and need to do it while on the go at all times:

32 GB iPad with Wi-Fi.

Might as well not quit there. My contract is up with my current phone. Rumor has it the iPhone will be at Verizon at the beginning of the year:

4G 32 GB iPhone.

And finally, because we don't have enough gadgets on the list, or in our house:

UltraHD 8GB | 2 hr

I added links, just in case you want to go out and buy each item for someone special, ehem....er, yourself, er, me......

Are you dreaming of anything fun (I mean besides the obvious-world peace, end to starving children, AIDS, The big C, frigid temps, flooding, children that let you pee on your own, financial freedom...you know...that sort of stuff)? Do you have fun just day dreaming about all the selfish things you'd like?

Date Weekend

This guy and I are off on a weekend getaway. Two nights, by ourselves. What ever will we do?

Broadway Paper

Fantastically Amazing.

A few months ago I was contacted by the owner of Broadway Paper in The Third Ward of Milwaukee. Broadway Paper is an amazing paper store. They have absolutely everything you would need, from wedding invites to journals. The Third Ward is a fancy schmancy little area with fun stores like Anthro.

So the owner was opening a Pop-Up Store in Downtown Milwaukee for the holiday season and was wondering if we could work out a deal....she uses my furniture as display pieces and I get to sell them DOWNTOWN!

I said hells to the yessss....immediately. Well, I didn't swear, well, maybe I did, I don't remember...

But, Tom and I took some stuff down there a few weeks ago. The store wasn't quite ready, but we set it in there.

Here's what it looks like. Holy crap. My stuff is in a store.

I took the next photo from the sidewalk.

Ohhh---emmmmm---gggeeeeee...That's MY stuff in a store window. I can't breathe.

One of the greatest things about this location is the ceiling. I know, right...weird thing to be excited about, but look at it:

The crown moulding is individual little pieces placed together and it is just dreamy. The glass all around, made me so excited.

People on the street were pointing at the chairs and saying, "Oh, I love those chairs!" It was so fun.

Last Friday we went down there and everything was set up and it looked absolutely perfect. I failed to bring my camera, but will do it soon.

Who knows if anything will sell, but to have the exposure is just great. I'm so pleased with the experience and Kate, the owner couldn't have been better. She is so sweet.

Hope you are all having a fantastic Thursday. We are freezing here. Freezing, I tell ya.

Just in case you don't know, because I didn't really know until I was in NYC:
A Pop-Up Store is a store only open for a short time, they do it a lot in the bigger cities, like NYC to draw people to other areas of town and to bring stuff to areas that would otherwise not have that particular item. For example, Kate Spade does it all over NYC.

xoxo

BIG NEWS. For me.

First, some housekeeping - Traci from Virginia that asked about the Mary Jane Confetti fabric, please email me (and include your email so I can email you back) I've got some fabric for you!

Thank you all for the compliments on the pumpkins and the stairs and my kids and my furniture! It means so much and I know I can't get emails out to each and every one of you, but just know that I appreciate it so much! And because of all of your encouragement and peer pressure (okay, not really) but the encouragement....I got up the courage to contact a store.

And that's the big news. White Butterfly Furniture is going to be in a STORE! That's right. Within the next few weeks local people will be able to purchase White Butterfly furniture and goods at a store called Harvest Home. It is a fantastic, amazing store with a fabulous owner (Hi Brenda!). Maybe she'll let me take some pictures and post them all over the world wide web. 

The idea is that I'll filter some pieces in throughout the next few months and then have a show with some big pieces such as the table.

And this buffet.

It's actually quite a funny story, if you are at all interested in the story behind how it came about.

I went into the store and asked the woman behind the counter where she got her furniture (which happened to be the owner), and I said I refurbished furniture and she said, "I KNOW! I KNOW YOU! I READ YOUR BLOG!" So, long story short, we both wanted my furniture in her shop and so it will be!

I'm so excited and I am so looking forward to doing some pieces for the store and expanding the client base. One of the many things I love about this store is that she keeps the prices reasonable. It is so important for me to keep the prices great so that people can afford it. And that is important to her too.

I will still be painting pieces for me to sell and I will still be posting things on the website. So don't worry. We're working together on stuff.

So there you have it. Fun stuff. Can't wait.

My Birthday Ramblings.

Today. Is. My. 34th. Birthday. In honor of this day, I will do a birthday rambling instead of a mom rambling.

1. It's kind of a bittersweet day. It often gets lost with the start of fall and the first days of school. It also gets lost because my fantastic first born has a birthday the day after. Which makes labor day ever single year a fun time for us!


2. I don't love getting older, but I've learned to embrace my age. I actually never want to be much younger. Well, maybe I want the body of younger...not younger me though! Younger someone that had a better body than me! Because I'm actually happy with the body I have now. It's better than the younger me body. Stronger. It's been through more. It knows what it can do. (I mean, I did birth three children. Two sans drugs! What can I say, I'm proud of that!) 

3. I'm learning to love my crow's feet (they are there!) and the wrinkle between my eye brows. And I'm learning to pluck my gray hairs (or cover them, whatev). I'm embracing my old lady hand veins. (They look just like my mom's did!)

4. I'm also learning that with age I have no patience for ignorance and I'm starting to actually take a stand on issues instead of sitting on the fence through life.


5. I listen to NPR. Holy crap.

6. I read Reader's Digest. Holy crap.


7. I wear tennis shoes with jeans.

8. I still get pimples. (I'm NOT okay with that!)


9. I have a little pouch that won't go away no matter how much I run and only gets bigger when I eat a whole jar of cake frosting (Not that I do that.)


10.I say "I want" and "I need" a lot. That's annoying.


11. I'm trying to simplify what we have. And teach my boys the difference between wanting things, and needing things. Ha. I'm trying to teach myself as well.


12. I wish it would rain.


13. I want another baby.


14. I need to wash my hair.


15. I'm back running and it feels good. Can't wait to train for something again.

16. Tom keeps asking me what I'm going to do when the kids go to school all day. I keep thinking, "holy crap - what AM I going to do?" I have no idea. Take a shower, I guess.


17. I wish I had more to say.


18. This is what my living room looks like right now:

Are you kidding me?! Get a maid!

19. I wish I had a maid.


20. And a chef. To cook me only healthy meals. And cookies. And pie. And cake. 


21. I never want to be 21 again.


22. I loved being 22. 


23. I'm done. Thank you all for reading and following and being my "blogging friends". Keep laughing with me or at me, either one. Keep crying with me. And I'll just try and keep up.

8th Anniversary

Today is our EIGHTH Anniversary. EIGHT crazy years. We skipped the seven year itch.

I tried to be very creative here and come up with a countdown....here's what I have so far....

8 years.
7 moves.
6 cities.
5 members of our family.
4 cars.
3 kids.
2 dogs.
1 happy life together. (So cheesy).

Love you baby. Thanks for taking the plunge and marrying a mid-west girl that you could curl up with on cold nights in GF. Sometime I'll write the story of how we met. And how I told him I wasn't home....

Because I have a right to change my mind.

I sold the Armoire. I don't know why I capitalized the letter A in armoire. Maybe because it was such a big thing.

We got a new television, right after I finished painting it.

We really had no where for it to go.

Goodbye sweet ARMOIRE. You will be missed. But you will be happy in the Northwoods of Wisco.

I'm such a freak.

Mom Ramblings #5: When Mommy Goes Away.

1. I'm back! Finally. I was supposed to come home early Sunday morning. However, the weather on the east coast was horrible and I had to buy a ticket on another airline so I could get home before late Monday night. Instead I got home early Monday morning (we're talking 12 am people.) It wasn't the most pleasant traveling day. However, I did get to wander around NYC by myself for a little while and that was pretty fun. Especially when you actually know where you are going!

2. Speaking of fun. The weekend was so much fun! My sister and her fiance' are getting married in October and so we went to NYC to search for wedding dresses and the dreaded bridesmaid dresses. The wedding dress was found on Saturday. Sister Sara is not one to hem and haw about things. When she finds what she likes she buys. She's not a shopper. Although she doesn't just buy with passion and frivolity. She does her research goes in with a purchase in mind and then buys what she loves. It seems to be working for her! Here's a peak at the dress:

Okay, that's not it. That entire dress is actually made out of tiny little ceramic tile. There was a groom on the other side in a tux made out of tiny little ceramic tile too.

I can't show you the actual dress. Not yet. But, here's a peek at the material:

3. Bridesmaid dresses were not as easy. But, they were still relatively easy. I think I tried on 15. And sister Lou tried on about the same amount. We finally went in to a little shop that Sara frequents for dresses and bought three cocktail dresses off the sale rack. It was fantastic! 

 The dresses do not involve Lou or any of us wearing this $385 hat.

4. If you ever want to know what would go on in your house if you happened to not be around any longer, then take a little vacay all by yourself. Here's what I noticed when I got home; The boys were fed, bathed and happy. The laundry was piled high. I mean HIGH. There are no clean underwear. The mantel did not get finished. The floor board on the landing did not get nailed down. BUT, the dishes were done. The boys were happy. They played a lot of Star Wars and watched a little too much TV. A bottle of Old Crow was on the counter. Apple Jacks in the pantry. Candy bowl empty. Laundry piled HIGH. Broken jacket, muddy shoes, clean kitchen floor. Happy kids. Tired Dad. All seems right with the world.

5. Tom and I are like ships passing in the night. I got home late last night. He left before the sun got up to go to Chicago for work. Again.

See that dude behind the woman in the gray jacket and jeans? I want his outfit.

6. After I went to the Y to work off the 9 bazillion calories I enjoyed this weekend, including the cupcakes below, I took the boys to GW. They missed us. We hadn't been the week before. I got some great things today. I will show you tomorrow.

We had these for breakfast on Thursday morning. Magnolia Cupcakes. Delish.

7. We saw Natalie Morales from The Today Show. And Allen Cummings from "The Good Wife".

 I thought the pinwheels on this display were fantastic.

8. I am refreshed and determined to work harder as a mom. The boys got older while I was gone and I didn't like that. I am so glad I went on a little trip. It was a much needed break. In fact, I may have to do it every year just to appreciate them more.

This store had the most amazing wood flooring options I have ever seen. All reclaimed lumber. I wanted to go in there and steal all the samples.

9. I thought a lot about blogging and writing and being a mom and how much I appreciate all the kind words people say about me and my little family.