Sweet Lilacs...

I am so glad I created a new entryway in the living room. Now when we walk in the front door we have the perfect place to put our keys and enjoy the sweet smell of freshly cut flowers.

Today is chilly and rainy...ugh! Thankfully we had decent weather on Saturday and were able to start our Spring cleaning in the backyard and work on the garden(s).

Take a look at the new addition to our backyard. The playset actually arrived last Thursday. The kids were so excited they even got up early on Friday before school to play in it. Of course I had to climb in and go down the slide. The little fort area really feels like your in a treehouse because it sits up high in the backyard right under a tree.

TheInspired Room has an excellent post on backyards. Go check it out for inspiration.

Have a great day!

T

One project down, three to go...

Here are pictures of my china cabinet and server that I just completed.

Now I am on a mission to find just the right accessories to put back into the cabinet. I previously showcased all my wedding china and crystal in the cabinet. I don't want that look any longer. I want something fresh and different this time around. I'll share pictures of the completed cabinet once I fill it with all the right stuff!

The server is actually in my living room. When you walk into my house, you walk right into the living room. There really isn't a entryway at all. The server helps create a little "foyer" area when you walk into the house. I just put a few items on the server for now and couldn't resist putting out some of my shells already even thought it is still spring. I also need a bigger mirror to go over it, but put up one of my favorite tin mirrors for now until I find the perfect size mirror to put in it's place.

Next on the list of things to do is the dinning room table. As you know, I love to "redesign" and use what I already have kind of thing. Although the dinning room set is a little outdated, I didn't want to purchase new furniture. My children are still at the age of using markers and glue at the table. And yes, I still allow them to even though they have a craft table in the basement.

I sanded the top of the table and plan on putting a light coat of poly on top and painting the bottom of the table to match the cabinet. I am on a hunt for new chairs however.

My current chairs are way to country for my ever changing decor ;) I searched this weekend at several antique shops but now luck. I think I will have to break down and purchase some new chairs if I don't find any this weekend at one of the area's largest yard sales in Mt. Airy, Md. I can't wait. I just love finding treasures.

Hopefully next time you check back I will have pictures of the table and chairs to share.

Have a great day!

T

P.S. How To: 1. Lightly sand. 2. Prime using Kilz. 3. Two coats of Swiss Coffee (Behr) Eggshell finish 4. Lightly glaze furniture with: 1 part antique medium and 3 part glaze. Instead of distressing the furniture, I just shadowed (edged) the furniture with the glaze.

Having problems with blogger...

Really, it's not me ;) having trouble posting pictures....

Hope you are enjoying the warmer weather my friends and check back soon for updates, I promise.

T

A little of this and that...

My daughter playing Teacher reading to her students "Green Eggs and Ham"....

My latest "before" project for my dining room...

*See "Before" pictures below of staging job

"After" pictures from my most recent staging job....making the best of what the homeowner has with little money.





Living Room

Dining room

"After" kitchen

Before Living Room...

Before Kitchen...

Before Dining Room...

Time sure does fly when your having fun. It has been such a whirlwind of happenings in my life these past several of weeks. Here's what's going on in my neck of the woods (Sorry Al HA!)

First, it was finally time to move my mother into her new home. We lost our Father last year. Needless to say my Mother has been depressed and lonely for the past year. She was married to her best friend for 52 years. I waited at least a year before I knew it was time for her to move closer to me and start a new chapter in her life. She moved into a lovely Senior Apartment living development. The Apartment building is located in the middle of everything and she can walk to tons of shops and a huge variety of restaurants and other amenities. My daughter and I already found an outstanding sushi bar right across the street from my mothers new place.

The residents are kept busy with planned activities and outings. She has already met a group of women who were having happy hour and they asked my Mom to join them. How cute is that...a bunch of elderly ladies sitting around having cocktails and appetizers in the community room. (I already asked if I could join too HA!) Best of all, she is now less than 15 minutes from me. This is one thing I can check off my 2008 "To Do" list with a big smile of happiness.

Then there was Spring Break... I kept busy with the kids going to D.C. site seeing at the Museums and the Zoo. It was our lunch on the lawn of the Mall that turned out to be the most interesting. Apparently, the tourist feed the squirrels and therefor the squirrels are not afraid of people at all. Wait a minute...I guess my Daughter is a tourist too, yes, she threw a french fry at the squirrel and we were attacked for more. The kids thought that was the funniest part of our day. Lesson learned for our next visit to see the Cherry Blossoms.

Then we finished our Spring Break at the Grandparents beach home. The kids were so excited when they arrived there. We had a huge play set put in for all the grand kids to enjoy when they're not at the beach this summer. This also helps the Grandparents sanity from having kids running through the house. I can't wait until the play set gets delivered for our backyard...yippee!

Then back to reality this week with School and PTA meetings. Just when I thought we were back on schedule, last night my daughter wakes up in the middle of the night and complains her throat hurts. We all know what that means. Sure enough STREP! She will have her second dose of antibiotics tonight and will be back to normal tomorrow the Doctor said. She was so upset she couldn't go to school today. She just absolutely loves school and loves her friends. So, she decided to "play" school. Too cute. Actually, I need to get off the computer before she gets upset. She wants me to join her again...So much for my "to do" list today. I am in the middle of a painting project and organizing my closets and office, oh well, maybe tomorrow!

Check back for a new "Stage Your Home To Sell" series. Now I just need one of those clients that H.G.T.V. seems to find on "Design to Sell"...anybody out there?

Until next time, Cheers!

Theresa