Priming is painful!

Oook, so the frames have been primed, but boy are they unworthy of being shown.  This is the worst stage of refinishing something.  Streaky, stripy, mess!  They are going to look cute, but I think I need some input as to whether I should do the caramel/tan color under the white or vice versa and then distress.  Any suggestions?  The trouble with our place is that we are renting and we cannot paint the walls.  Luckily our landlords have painted the whole place a nice antique white.  The architecture in this place is pretty stunning too...more on that in a later post!  Soo, I almost think the walls need some warmth- maybe the tan with white showing through the distressing is the way to go!

So since I don't have any "final product" pics to show I thought I would post some pics of our recently refinished dining table and chairs. We found them on craigslist for a steal and put a little elbow grease into making them just how we wanted them.  The set is almost 100 years old!  Such neat details on the legs!  It has two leaves at the end that pull out to make the table a little over 7ft. long.

I re-upholstered the seats in 100% linen fabric that I got on super-duper clearance at Hobby Lobby!  It was originally like $25/yard and I got like 3 yards for $10!  Made me happy!

 
We no longer have the buffet in the background (which is good cause the clashing colors of woods was driving me nutssss!!)  It also gives us a ton more space.  I would just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a jute rug to put under the table, but with us moving in 10 months and still living on a student budget it just isn't a reality.  :(

I also had the time and the peaches to make a yummy peach pie today!  My hubby's eyes lit up when he arrived home from school.  I included some pics of the process and if anyone wants the tried-and-true recipe (which is a combo of Betty Crocker...haha...I know....and a pie crust recipe from one of my mom's good friends) just let me know!

Its truly the best peach pie ever.  I use half whole wheat flour and half regular flour for the pastry (to make it a little healthier..hehe).  I also have started using Sugar in the Raw (unprocessed sugar) for baking- the taste is so yummy!

Got out my Pampered Chef mini-cookie cutters and cut out some fall leaves to put on top! 

And 45 minutes later its done!  Sprinkle some sugar on top and voila!

Fall is ALMOST HERE..at least for a tease!

The weather was spectacular today!  A high of 78 degrees and going to be in the upper 40s/low 50s tonight!  AMEN!  This is my kind of weather!  Today was once again a busy and unproductive (decoratively speaking) day.  Although I did manage to snap a picture of the assortment of frames, etc. that I will be sprucing up and making Shabby Chic!  They are all black or really dark wood tones and I am on a white and light kick!  Out with the old and in with the "new."  Here is the before:

Everything is going to get a splash of primer/white paint for sure and possibly some sort of tan over the top. Then LOTS of distressing. The corkboard/whiteboard is also getting painted and the whiteboard portion will be turned into a chalkboard (courtesy of chalkboard paint).  I'm not really sure where any of this decor is going in our place, but I just knew that I didn't like any of it the way that it was.  Tomorrow I will be visiting the local craft store to stock up and then tomorrow night I will hit the dungeon basement of ours and get to paintin'!  I can see it all in my head, but you will have to wait for the after pics until at least tomorrow night.

Til' tomorrow!

A day without much motivation

Well friends, though I promised you some decorating pics to look over, I didn't manage to get to it today.    We did have our 3rd OB appointment today and little Rasmussen #2 is doing well!  Doesn't it just burn you to make an appointment for a specific time and wait ONE hour after that in the waiting room before you are even taken back to see the doc (or midwife in this case).  Not to mention I had my precious toddler in tow who probably unraveled the entire roll of paper meant to cover the patient bench in our room!  Yikes!  But glad to say that everything is going well.  Within the next 5 weeks we have to decide if we are going to wait and be surprised as to whether it is a boy or a girl.  It sounds like a lot of fun and good motivation during labor, but I'm not really sure if I can wait that long!  I know my grandma and my mom will be subtly pressuring me to find out...haha!  Though I would be thrilled for a boy or a girl, I do have two friends who are having girls in the next few months and that's making me a little antsy!!  Imagine the clothing, headbands, shoes, ribbons, bows, etc.  OH MY!  Anyways, hope you all had a blessed day!  Tomorrow my creative wheels should be turning and I'll get some pics posted!

Farmers Market...Oh how I love thee!

Today was the PERFECT day for hanging up those freshly laundered cloth diapers and let the warm breeze dry them, not to mention the sun bleach them out!  They look just a little brighter and whiter than they did before.

The air is definitely starting to change here, its still HOT, but somehow more tolerable.  Johnny tells me its easier to embrace summer when you know it is nearing the end- true story.  I do love Fall, but grilling and bare feet are pretty fun too!

Wyatt and I visited the Farmer's Market today and found some yummy produce!  PEACHES, PEACHES, PEACHES!  I smell a peach pie in the making!

Wyatt thinks the peaches (or anything else round) are balls.  So I had to snap a shot of him with a couple peaches!  Can't wait to show you all what painting/decorating things I'm up to now!  Stay tuned tomorrow for a few "before" photos of the stuff I'm starting to work on!  

Is Fall here yet?!

I keep checking the weather wondering if we have cool weather in the future, but consistently keep seeing those upper 80s and low 90s- just miserable!  I am READY for Fall in so many different ways.  I cant wait to see the leaves turning and falling from the trees, to wear jeans and boots, to be able to take Wyatt to the park at 2 in the afternoon and not suffocate and sweat...so many things!  I am excited to be finally journaling my first entry on my blog!  It seems like I've pondered the idea for several months and have yet to take the time to learn how to put one together.  I decided it was time to create one when I was consistently going to bed at night with unspoken thoughts (and decorating ideas of course) running through my head!  My poor hubby can only listen to me talk so much about what else I want to paint white!  I want this to be an opportunity for those who don't get to see us often to know what's going on in our lives; for those who need decorating inspiration (I'm no expert though) to come see what I like to do/paint around our house; and for those who need to hear tidbits of hope and joy from God's Word to stop by and get refreshed!  I hope you will all enjoy reading this as much as I will enjoy writing!  God Bless and be on the lookout for a new post soon!