Trash to treasure

TRASH can + Rub N Buff = TREASURE

 

 

 

That is all.

hugs,
k.

My purty little budget friendly lamp makeover

A while back the girls and I made a run to Austin to see my mom and oldest chicken.  Before heading to mom's house, we ran to my MOST favorite Goodwill ever of all time!  (because as you can see, I have my priorities in perfect order!)

There are 2 areas I hit first before perusing the entire HOME section of the store.  The pictures/frames (which also is where the furniture is... but there's rarely anything earth shaking at this particular store) and the lamps.  I came across, not one... but a PAIR of the most FAAAABULOUS brass lamps!!  It was love at first sight!  And for $14.99 each... they were mine all mine :)

Well, since bringing them home, they've moved from room to room and have had shades that I knew weren't going to be their {forever} shades.

I've been on the lookout for something fun and funky and have had zero luck!  SO.... last night while at HomeGoods, I came across 2 matching drum shades in white!  They were a whopping $16.99 each (which is about $8 cheaper than WalMart!) and my mind started to race and the ideas were coming and coming and BAM!  I had a plan that was set into motion.

[if you know me, you know that once I have an idea it's literally 

"Katie bar the door!!  Momma's got crazy eyes!"  

SO I ran over to Michael's for some grois grain ribbon to make stripes on the shades.  BUT....  Sometimes while riding the crazy train, it gets derailed by something even MORE fabulous!! 

I spotted THE loveliest wrapping paper in the dollar fifty section!!

YES... 

wrapping. paper.

^^^ Here's the lamp and new white shade ^^^

 (good lord almighty I look skinny in this reflection!  I think momma's found a new mirror!)



And here's the lovely wrapping paper I put around the shade using double sided tape.

 

By the way... trim the paper!
A mistake I made here and had to go back to correct.
Because DUH!!!
You can actually SEE the trim thru the shade once the light is on! 

I tell ya.

I worry about me sometimes ;)

And yes, I do know there are two different bulbs in the lamps....
I am trying to decide which bulb I prefer.

The "daylight" on the left
or
The "soft light" on the right.

What do you think??

Either way... I am THRILLED with how fun and HAPPY they are!

Lookin all pretty and ready to greet you when you come thru the door :)
 and at $1.50 a roll... I can and WILL be changing these out....
often :)

 

**note to self**

when taking a picture of a mirror.... clean up the crap it'll reflect!  

geez!!

 Anywhoody~

Whacha think? 

 LEFT or RIGHT?

hugs,

k.

Finding my field of dreams in a painting.

I cannot believe it's been over a month since I've blogged!  Time.  Boy how it can fly!

As most of you know, we moved in February of this year and have been getting all settled in our new digs.  I've really been missing the unique little community we lived in so I thought I'd try to recreate it somewhat here.  Well, the ol saying  "Build it and they will come" just about sums it up.  It's amazing to me how if one person can find it in them to step out and say "Hey, let's be friends.  Let's connect"  how many others are wanting the same thing.  The Bible says it's what the human race was made for.... Connection.  So.  I was that one person.  I let my guard down, reached out, and connected.  And MAN!  Am I ever happy I did!  I've met some FABULOUS women!

So here's the story.

Our neighborhood had a Casino Night for us grown ups.  Thru our community fb page, I was able to sorta "meet" a few women that I really looked forward to meeting in real life.  It was loads of fun and I did, in fact, meet some great people!  {AND I won myself a lil iPad mini, ta'boot}  

A couple of weeks later I had an idea that I thought would be a fun Girl's Night out.  On our community face book page I asked if anyone would be interested in doing a painting at Painting With a Twist.  It had lots of positive responses, so I got to work looking for a painting we could all agree to paint.

I found this one! 

Yes.  That says HOES.  

Needless to say, we all had a great time razzing it... SO... There was our choice!  We would have our first  "Hangin with the HOES" party!  (you're super jealous now huh, because doesn't everyone wanna be a hoe?!)  ;)

But wait!  It gets even better!!  One of the ladies thought it was OUR genius to call our group the "Hoes", because she thought it stood for Housewives Of Eagle Springs!  People, that's OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!  HOW GENIUS IS SHE?!?!?!?!  (Kuddos all to you, Daniele!)

We had a BLAST!  And we wanted to keep getting together so..

 we made us a fb page

 and a drunko Bunco group

and now... it's not just the original 11 of us.... 

There are 62 of us!

In a week and a half time period...  

SIXTY TWO!  

Sixty two women eager to connect.  

Sixty two women so thankful to be making new friends.  

 Sixty two women!  

"Build it, and they will come!" 

I feel blessed!

Blessed because I stepped out of my box; I put myself out there;  and God showed up!  He answered my prayer for connections :)  

And I am grateful!

Little update:  We now have enough signed up to make not one, but TWO bunco groups!  

A couple weeks after our first Bunco, all us HOES are heading to a lil' hole in the wall, South American joint where we'll eat, drink and have us some SALSA DANCING lessons!  WHOOP  WHOOP!!

hugs,

k.

 

Fun finds with my new friend!

Today, I tagged along with my new friend Pamela, from From my front porch to yours, and her super sweet (and absolutely AHdorable) boys, to this amazing antique shop in Spring, Tx. {The Antique Gallery} When I tell you I was in HEAVEN... I really mean it! There were SO many goodies and LOADS and LOADS of eye candy; aka.. the stuff ya probably wouldn't necessarily buy unless ya went totally hog wild! I was so caught up in the "hunt" that I failed to take very many picts for you. Sorry. It's just my inability to multitask when my thinkin cap is on!  But. I did manage to snap just a few, as well as what I came home with :)  Oh, and I had to take a pict of the AHHHHMAZING lunch I had at Panera! Oh em gee!!

 

Up next...


This is just too cute!!

One day....

Pshht.... Y'all know I will!

 

How fun is SHE!?!?!

 ***********

 I really want a bust I can glam up and have fun with like Edie, from Life in Grace blog has done.  She pretty much is living in MY dream home!  It's pretty much the most amazingly eclectic home I've ever seen!

***********


And here is what I actually came home with..

 
The above are in my black half bath above my mirror over the sink.  Love em!

*************

 Now.

I am saving these lil' beauties for my bedroom when I'm ready to dive in.
  I was thinking of purples and golds and glam....

But these have inspired NAVY and gold and glam!!

I am PUMPED. UP!

  


************

I have been looking for a fun vintage Tonka truck for like, ever

BAM!

Found one!!

ON. SALE!  Oh yeah, baby!

 

 

He'll definitely be movin around the house...
afterall, things seldom stay "parked" in the same spot 'round here!
{{ba da boom, pssh!}} 

After all that mind-blowing shopping we did, we scouted out a Panera Bread.

Y'all.
This is the most amazing lunch I've had in quite some time!
 I HIGHLY recommend it on a "cheat day".... or any day, really~

It's a Shrimp Salad Roll with Summer Corn Chowder

Seriously.

It's THAT good :9

hugs,

k.

Our black and gold half bath

Well folks... I did it!

I have always wanted to try it, so today I jumped in, both feet first!

And I went for it!

I SPRAY PAINTED our half bath ceiling GOLD!

METALLIC gold, to be exact!

And then....

I painted the walls BLACK satin!

OH. EM. GEE!

I am in  ♥ L.O.V.E ♥

**please know, it's not perfect yet. I just did it today. I will still tweak it a bit.... cause that's what I do**

 I'm playing around with my sign on my door... this gives you a general idea of where I'm going with it. 

 It's dark by the toilet so these picts rather suck.  Sorry!

I know.. I know... 
She's a lil creepy... 
but I like her.  
To make my kids happy (and apparently the men who've peed in our half bath..)
She'll be finding a new place in the home once I have a replacement for her ;) )
Oh, the things I sacrifice~

The ceiling reminds me of crocodile!

 

So... that's it.  There ya have it!  

(I realize this look isn't for everyone. It is for me, however... and that's what matters :) hope that didn't sound snotty. )

*as always, feel free to leave a little love*

Have you taken any risks lately?  Have ya thought outside of the box??

hugs,

k.

A half hall and a transformation

Today, I'm all about short and sweet and to the point.

A before (aka pre-Kristy)

and

An after (aka post-Kristy)

BEFORE

While the previous homeowner worked painstakingly on this faux stone area.. it's just not my thang!

 

AFTER

Now, get on out there and paint something you'll love!  ;)

hugs, 

k.

Throw pillows with a funny story

Setting the stage:

People who know me {personally} know I say and do things that most normal people only think of saying or doing.  It's just who I am.  Please note that I do have a [semi] filter so the things I say/do are often pretty funny (not rude).... even if only to myself.  (some laugh with... some laugh at... but either way, it's all good...cause they laugh... right?!)

So here's where this is going:

Back in April, our very large community had a very large garage sale.  Man, oh man!!  I am SUCH a sucker for garage sales!  BUT since we just moved here, and I had a. lot. of crap to dispose of {and I needed some moola to CMA (cover my a$$) for all the "goodies" I've been collecting for the new house} I desperately needed to have my own sale.

  Needless to say, to hold my own, was going to prove to be quite a challenge for me.  I told my best sister-friend that I was going to have Josh run ours, while I went out and shopped!  (because that is just sooo like me!)

 Well, I don't think the hubs found a lot of humor in that~ sooo I ran ours.  

To ensure I would actually HAVE mine, and not skip out and shop,  I teamed up with my best gal pal and brought all my crap to her house!  After we set up, at the freakin butt crack of dawn, the shoppers arrived.  I made small talk with a sweet lady that was scoring big on some of my schtuff, throwing ideas around with her as she was decorating her new home.  She left... went next door and did some more shopping.  My gal pal and mom encouraged me to go over there and see what they had, but I declined.  I was determined I was going to actually PROFIT, not break even. That my getting up at 5am was certainly not going to be for nothin'!

About the time I was saying "nooo.. that's ok...",  I see my new found friend walking across the street to her car carrying a set of black and white pillows I HAD. TO. HAVE!

{this is where my "unique-borderline-cahRAZY" personality kicks in}

I freaked!! 

I gasped!! 

I HAD to get them!

I began muttering run on sentences like "OMGSH, they would totally match my decor", "Holy CRAP!  I've been looking for that print!!", "I'm gonna do it!  I'm buying them from her!"

 

So I grabbed some money out of my {profit} box and ran over to her..  

As she was putting the pillows that I had to have in her car, I was like 

"HEY!  WOW!  I LOVE those pillows!!! Do you really, really love them???"  

She looked at me all wide-eyed and befuddled... (I'm not crazy lady...chill with deer in the head lights looks, already)  

She murmured something like "ummmmmm no?????"   

So I asked her what she paid.  

She said $2.... 

TWO DOLLARS?!?!  As in a dollar a piece TWO DOLLARS?!?!

  

(y'all.... please know... in my head... I AM becoming the Ikea lady!!)   

So, I offered her $5 if she'd sell them to me.

And she DID!

GAHHH!!!!!

   **watch this now for the full affect!**

 I GOT THE PILLOWS!!

I. GOT. THE. PILLOWS!!!!

WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!!!

By now, my mom and BGP were hysterical!  They about peed their pants!

I have no shame, people.

None. 

Bet by now, you're SUPER curious to see these coveted pillows, aren'cha?!

First... here's my couch pillows and why I needed the garage sale pillows....

And here's what the garage-sale-pillows-that-I-bought-off-another-person-who-already-bought-the-pillows pillows look like....

For $2.50 a piece!  

Oh... I forgot to mention.. 

They had never, even ONCE, been used!

See why I just HAD to have them?!  

They. are. perfect!

Have you ever done something so off the wall that you can't help but giggle (even if it's only on the inside) every time you think of it?!

hugs,

k.

An urn, some Frog tape and couple cans of spray paint

Welp... I'm at it again.

My mom always says "Don't blink in Kristy's house!"  because I am notoriously always changing things...  rearrange it, paint it, hang it, take it down, paint it again.. you ALL know what I'm talking about.  It's just my thang.

Anywhoodie

As most of  you know, we moved into our new house in February and I've piddled and tweaked and fiddled and faddled and it's all slowly coming together.... but I've never been quite settled with the tv wall.  The dreaded tv wall that is THE focal wall.  ugh.

I'll show you where I started and kind of talk you thru what's changed (mayyyybe even 2-3 times since February... maybe) 

*but first.  my photos are crappy. i'm sorry.  blogging about this was kind of an after thought and i was too far into my thought process to go get the good camera.  sorry.*

So you know, the iron shelves were once black.  Now, they're gold.

The urns/planters were once a cool distressed concrete, then green, then hot pink, then (photoed) white.  I've painted them.  Again.

Matte black

I used my trusty Frog tape and taped off the rim around the top.  I wanted to have the black and white contrast and have them play off the chevron urns on the mantel. 

Buuuuuut they weren't quite "finished".

So.

I got out my Rub N Buff

Yep.  That's just what it needed!

whoops.  this pict is lop-sided.  how do I fix that here?!

oh well. 

Here's the "bigger picture"  :)

YEP!  I like it waaayyy better!  

Now.

About that orange iron piece....

Please tell me we're all alike and slightly obsess over our schtuff...

hugs.

k.

((By the way... I am still hittin up the ol' Home Goods/Marshalls/TJMaxx weekly for a matching black/white lamp shade to match the one on the right!  Let me know if you come across one, will ya?!))

And hey.  Since you're lookin... leave me a little love why don'cha?!  At least then I'll know you were here! ;)  THANKS A TON, HON!

Body armor, heart armor, mind armor... bc it all takes a beating sometimes.

If there's one thing I have learned over the past umpteen weeks of not blogging ((truth be told there's actually A LOT I've learned, but let's highlight this one thing first)) it is that life is incredibly unpredictable.

I mean, there you are... going about your day... and then BAM!  A curve ball.  One you weren't quite prepared for.  One that didn't necessarily knock you down, but certainly made you stumble.

So, you grab a catcher's mitt and get ready for the next one.  Only the next one is not a ball.  It's a friggin 2x4.... and it done hit 'cha square in the gut.... took your breath away even.

But you manage to muster on.... now wearing your catchers mitt, your batters helmet, your nut cup cleats, your umpires chest/body guard pad thing; you know.. all the gear you'll need for curve balls and 2x4's.

Then it happens... again.  Only this time it's the rug that gets pulled out from underneath your feet and you go down haaaard... with a THUD!  Flat on your back.  The wind really gets knocked out of ya this time.  So there you lay.  Looking up.  Reflecting.  Praying.  Realizing....

You have survived.  You have survived it all.


And you are grateful.

Because in that moment, you realize how you survived.

It's stronger than that catcher's mitt, that batters helmet, those nut cup cleats, that umpires chest/body guard pad thing.  It's even stronger than the fibers of the rug that always gets pulled out from beneath your feet.

You survived because you have on you the full armor of God.
Without it...  you also realize, you could not survive a single day with even a morsel of peace.

And you are grateful.

**********************************************************************************

We are standing on our feet now, and getting settled into our new home.  Things are good and are moving a tad faster than a snails pace. So, soon... I'll snap some picts of what I've been up to in our house, what I've decorated and redecorated (and will still redecorate, I am positive) and share them with you all.

Til then....

Ephesians 6:10-18.... Rock on!

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

hugs,

k.

Lamp re-vamp

Most of you know, we are in the middle of buying a house, selling our house and moving to another city so, I've not blogged in a good long while... especially a crafty-how-to blog.  Well, today, I got my paint and my Frog tape out and re-vamped my lamp!

I found this funkadelic pendant light on Pinterest... and ohhhh how I want this in our new house!

Source: bellacor.com via Kristy on Pinterest

But this baby ain't cheap!  {$328.00}  And I'd need TWO!

So I started thinking about how I could have this look by re-vamping something I already have.

Welp, I came across a lamp that's just been sitting in a closet and I thought "Hey! I'mma try somethin".

So.. I took this here lamp 

(my sincerest apologies for the super crappy pictures!)

And I started making stripes using my tape. I used the width of the tape to "measure" my widths of the stripes.  

After all... it's Frog tape... the stuff is amazing because it doesn't remove the paint or leave any kind of residue behind. 

 &I used a black dry erase marker to mark my spots.

And I painted my striped black with regular ol' acrylic craft paint.

 I then taped over the black, leaving a teensy bit of the gold to show and painted off white (I just mixed white acrylic with a touch of gold) and got this...

I added some embellishing/personalization and VOILA!

I most definitely need a new shade!  Not diggin the shade!! 

And I'll also spray a glossy sealer over it for added protection. :)

  

((and again.. I am SOO sorry for the super crappy pictures))

But, otherwise..

Wha'cha think?  Not too shabby for a ditto, eh!?!

hugs,

k.


Linkin up @

two yellow birds decor