Object of Maya*ffection

Happiness....

....Is NOT about having all you want. It is wanting all you've got! Sometimes it's easy to fall into the "once this happens, I will be happy, fulfilled, life will be good, etc". I like this quote because to me it says live in the moment, find a way to appreciate what YOU DO HAVE vs. what you could/would/should have. Still LOVING my FABULOUS chalkboard! I have a couple before and after's.... This girl LOVES her some pearls.... BEFORE: AFTER: I added the sweet charm I found last summer in Wisconsin (do you remmber that post?) If not, you can find it by clicking on the link. Even the dog got some blingy charm love on her collar... This next before and after is more about layering when decorating. I'm a MORE is MORE girl! I LOVE having lots of stuff! This look isn't for everyone, but it hits the spot for me! Remember these candle holders I painted? BEFORE: AFTER: Originally I had only the candles in there BUT decided to add the river rocks as another visually pleasing layer along the bottom... I have more examples of layering which I hope to get on here tomorrow...we'll see how that goes since I am supposed to be cleaning house today!

Another GOODwill Day

I have been hitting the Goodwill jackpot lately! Which is a good thing (as Martha would say) since dad and I are doing the Kane County Flea in September. Dad's the one I get my love of junking from....I remember as a kid going to garage sales every weekend with him and sometimes mom. I would gravitate toward the jewelry of course! Now, I am dragging my kids along to garage sales and Goodwill...do you think they'll have a love for junking when they're older? Onto the Goodwill treasures.... Mercury glass looking candle holders were only .98 EACH....what a steal! The black mirror is from Pottery Barn and only set me back $1.99, white tureen was $2.99. I think my FAVORITE find was the lobster mold....white, ceramic and only .98 While the lobster featured in Ballard is slightly different, I got the same affect for $48.00 LESS!! Lots of little table scaping type projects going on aound here....will post those later cause the kids and I are off to garage sales this morning. Hope y'all have a FAB day!

N*E*S*T

Remember when I posted about the nest a couple of months ago? Well, while cleaning and re-arranging my front porch a few weeks ago I took down the nest with the "robin's egg blue" robin eggs in them....now before you go calling the ASPCA know that the nest has been there for several months and the momma never came back for her babies....the babies never hatched and now they are sitting on a shelf in my family room. If I think about it too much I begin to think it can't be very sanitary to have dried out bird baby eggs in my family room SO I try not to think about it :) The glass bird was a Goodwill find a few weeks ago....just painted the base black (was a nice plastic goldtone before). I am working on a light sea inspired display BUT just haven't gotten it where I want it yet BUT figured I'd show you a lil something.... I had this great old vintage black and white photo that I simply stuck in a "cloche" (which in actuality the "cloche" is just a deep candle cup you would have gotten from Party Lite, Home Interiors, etc. I of course got mine from Goodwill!) Cut these from my front garden last week...

Goodwill Hunting

I've seen that title on a few other blogs and LOVE it! Especially when I am about to show you some FAB Goodwill finds from last week! Just a portion of my 'loot' as some was already put to good use! The red triangular object is a metal shelf that I plan to repaint...the question is black or weathered white? I am going to replace the gold medallion hanging from the point with a crystal. I hit the SILVER jackpot with the silver pierced tray.... And this FAB pedestal style dish... I know you can hardly see the two carved square hooks (pics were taken at 1am) BUT these bad birds are from Anthropologie and originally retailed for $19.00 (so the sticker still attached said) and I paid .99 for EACH - SCORE!!! Y'all have heard me talking about vintage coastal and tying into that theme I couldn't pass up the adorable metal bucket with sailboats in blues and greens or these.... I am going to remove the garish yellow and fruity colored trim on the one hat (there is a slim black patent strip around the hat)....won't they be sweet on a hook or bench? And jewelry is my BEST FRIEND... Vintage pearls, rhinestones and silver oh my!

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