Object of Maya*ffection

BEFORE and AFTER

Y'all know I'm famous for the Before and After shots. We'll start with my FAVORITE so far....from Goodwill priced at 9.99.... Getting ready to be sprayed.... The "painting" was covered using Chalkboard paint (the spray-able version) This chalkboard is HUGE....It measures 30" tall and 46" wide.... My favorite part is the ornate frame! I waited FOREVER for these bad birds to go on sale at Target last fall...checking every few days (cause they reminded me of the candle holders that had just come out at Pottery Barn) so I think I paid $11.00 for all three.... I KNEW eventually I'd paint them (it only took me 10 months).... Can't wait to fill them...sea glass, old photo's, seashells, or the OBVIOUS choice - candles!!

Goodwill = Goodfinds

If you don't have a Goodwill near you..,.seek one out! There are great finds to be had WHILE helping others. Goodwill's Mission Statement: Goodwill provides training, employment and supportive services for people with disabilites or disadvantages who seek greater independence. How great is that?! Maybe almost as great as my Goodwill score a few weeks ago... BASKETS! Was on Katie's blog and she did some really great things with baskets, so I had to get a few of my own! Also scored a little silver covered sugar dish that will be perfect for q-tips in the bathroom. You know I am planning on going Vintage Coastal in the new place, so I scored this... Do you see what I see? Yep,right there in the lower right hand corner....a very SIMILAR wicker covered bottle...in our FAVE decorating catalog.... Yes, D4, Cane over "amber" (which you don't even see) glass....Ballard price on SALE $69.00....Goodwill look alike .99 that to me is PRICELESS!

Do you ever notice....

....the "small" things? A few weeks ago I took the kids to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. It was Free admission week, so we waited for 2 hours outside, then it started to drizzle and then it POURED....But we still waited. Once inside we had to wait in line for our tickets...while waiting in line, I was looking around. Here's what I saw.... Do you see what I saw? The vintage tin ceiling panels, the adorable sea themed chandalier? Take a closer look... Mind you I am surrounded by other wet moms and cranky kids who are looking at me like I have lost my marbles....people who don't blog just don't get it (by 'IT' I mean the reason for taking a pic of the ceiling). So I show my kids what I was taking a pic of and they think it's pretty cool because they hadn't noticed the sea creatures on the light fixture...them I have the kids in fron of me looking at my pics too, so of course their mom had to see what the fuss was about....it made me feel great to be able to share something that might have otherwise gone overlooked with my kids and my fellow line mates. Above one of the entryways inside the Shedd Aquarium.... If in Chicago I highly reccomend checking out the John G. Shedd Aquarium or as us locals call it...The Shedd.... Remember this.... "It isn't the great big pleasures that count the most, it's making a big deal out of the little ones." ~ Jean Webster

Before AND After....

....Y'all KNOW how much I love before and afters! I've had this store display piece for a few months now.... Yep, got that bad bird at Goodwill (GW) for .99! How could I pass that up??? My dream is to one day have my own little vintage boutique BUT until the ecnomy turns, I'm using it as this.... To hold all my bracelets! I was inspired Sunday after reading blogs to do a few projects....here's one that was easy to tackle and I accomplished in no time at all....I had these decorative balls that went with my old decor....a seagrass style, wicker look and basket weave.... and AFTER....to go with my new Vintage Coastal look... I left one a rich brown color...and the other two I am thinking I will sand down and rough up a lil! That's all I have for tonight! Was in the City all day with the kids at the Shedd Aquarium and am beat!

A weekend at The Lake

If only in my daydreams....My purchases made me think of just throwing all my look in an overnight bag and head to the lake.....good book, great movie, cute seersucker shorts and classic white T, jammies, bikini, cooler bag and flip flops! Every girl needs a little retails therapy every now and then! Friday was my day for that. Went to Target to exchange a bathing suit and walked out with an outfit, bikini, boxer jammie set and Fourth of July Deco for an amazing deal! Then headed to Marshall's a ns scored some more great stuff....Ralph Lauren tank, American Eagle wedges, Sex and the City the movie (for only $5.99- score!!) AND this AWESOME book.... "The Girls' Book How To Be The Best At Everything" Who doesn't need a book like this? Maya was the one who spotted it and asked if we could get it....Covers topics such as : How to write an award winning Haiku, How to act like a celebrity, How to improve your memory, How to be a natural beauty, HOw to give yourself the perfect mani, How to groom a horse, How to do a Su Doku puzzle, How to follow a friend without being noticed, Hoq to make your own lip gloss....there are at least 100 topics! Isn't that the greatest?!? So, until I can take that weekend getaway....I'll just daydream by the pool!

To age or not to age....

...that is the question. What started put as this..... Quickly became this after a few cans of spray paint.... NOW, the question is should I run some glaze over the white to take the brightness down a little OR do you think it will be fab as is in my Coastal Vintage decor? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Stranger

These days I feel like a stranger in my own home....it's the most bizarre unsettling feeling to have. I am emotionally seperating myself from this house because I will be moving soon. It's hard at times because this is the home I brought Miguel home from the hospital, made good friends with the neighbors, learned my way around the "other side" of town and had a blast decorating what was a "blank" canvas... Because of this, I am no longer doing any "big" projects....a few small things that can move with me when the time comes. I hope y'all don't think I am being a downer...that's certainly not my intention...I am hopeful that my experiences will help to comfort and console someone else who might be going through the same types of things or situations but wouldn't share with the whole world cause they are more private or reserved. As you may or may not have read a few posts ago, I am going through a divorce. Once things are finalized the kids and I will be moving out and renting. I am hopefult to find an affordable townhome so my kids will still have grass to play in! I am actually looking forward to decorating a new place (WHOLE NEW THEME!! Coastal Vintage is what I am dubbing it) good time for a change in decor! SO, until that day I will post small little projects such as this... What is this all about? Well, I got the infuser and sticks at Kohl's after christmas sale for around $3.00....the oil has since evaporated BUT Bath & Body is having their semi-annual sale and I scored 2 White Barn Candle Co. Home fragrance oils in Midnight Pomegranate for $5.00....if you're familiar with these oils you know they come with these plastic spouts that only allow a few drops of oil to come out at a time (hence the use of wire cutters, to pry the stopper out) poured the oils into my pretty mosiac infuser and BAM great scent for a song!

Life is a Highway.....

I want to ride all night long....Theme song from Disney's CARS. This was the theme from Miguel's 4th Birthday. Wish I could post a photo of the birthday boy and I....since I can't, these will have to do!! Happy Birthday Banner I made for my Lil man for all his birthday celebrations.... Different shades of blues and greens, so it should jive with whatever the theme for the next years will be (and yes, I did manage to sneak some animal print in there, zebra to be exxact!) I wanted to add this to the mantle BUT ran outta room (banner was bigger than I thought it would be!) so I hung it in the dining room for the party and now that the party is over will hang in his room.... AS long as we are on the subject of cars,let me show you another project I have completed! Remember a few posts ago I made the decal embellished T's for Maya? WELL, I was at Hobby Lobby and found a decal for BOYS!! I was stoked! Decal features an "old school" style race car and reads "livin in the fast lane" Cute, no? So, for less than $4.00 Mickey has a custom T too! I ironed the decal on the back of the t-shirt because the front has a pocket

Ch Ch Changes.....

If you've been on my blog lately, you'll notice there are no longer pictures of my kids....if you go back into the history, those photos have been removed as well, so some posts probably don't make any kind of sense! These are changes that were requested by my children's father. He and I are currently going through the divorce process. After several years of trying to mend the fence, the best thing for us and for the children is to divorce. I know there are a lot of people in the world who think staying together for the kids is what's best and divorce later in life. I disagree with this school of thought...kids are smart, they know what's going on. I don't think it's healthy for children to be involved in a 'loveless' marriage, because they will grow up thinking that's what marriage is, just getting by. I want more for my children, I want them to experience the true joy of loving and being loved. I know marriage is hard work and not all fairy tales, but at some point, when both people stop trying, there isn't much left to work with. It is a sad time in our lives, but in the long run, things will be better for all of us.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY...

...To all the Mom's, Step-Mom's, Grandmom's, Great Grandmom's. Today is our day, relish the time spent with loved one's and don't take one "mom"ent for granted! Being a mom is the most rewarding,exhausting, wonderful, 24 hour a day / 7 days a week job there is. I am so grateful to have children who call me mom (even on the days the test my last bit of patience) I wouldn't trade it for the world. Maybe that's because growing up I had a mom who was always there for me...even during those akward teen years, when I didn't want her to be, she was there. From her I've learned so much and continue to learn from her to this day. She's AMAZING! Mom, I love ya and can't wait to go flower shopping tomorrow with you! I couldn't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day than flower shopping with my mom and going to dinner with the family.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!